Hi - Just subscribed as looking up fencing equipment history
Found classical fencing VERY interesting.. Annoying (well .. almost) how just reading a few things in the many many pages made sense and I will have to re-evaluate how I myself fence (got a competition in approx. 4 hours.. open foil.... ) - I have had a break from competitive fencing for over 5 years and just trained in a little club that my state association didn't even know still existed (communication here not the best from the association - one would almost say non existent - if you aren't a paid up competitive club..hmm..) - I will see if any of these quick things I have read will make a diffeence (or if I will just make their day again - I broke up the pecking order last time coming 6th out of 16 .. a virtual unknwon fencer.... to most of them)
I am in south Australia and have been fencing for around 18 years, fencing in Adelaide very small (and small minded... I love politics between and in small groups.. not!), I fence all three weapons although mostly foil and leastly sabre (no more sabreurs here..).
Anyway I was looking into collating info. about the development of fencing equipment, not so much when this rule changed and when the maraging steel was used and masks introduced but more in line with what brand of blade or type of tip was introduced and used and when - that is for example:
companies such as forge scarone in Italy when started what supplied etc
soudet, france lames, allstar (and so on) -0 the history of these companies
The branding marks on the blades and who and why the change in brand or blade type... the bow and arrow mark, the wierd marking of russion blades..
Tips and when they changed - point d'arrette, pineapple german french english and the wonderful (!!???) chinese and Russian copies..
date's blades made and style of blade's changed - such as:
brands of blades and manufacturer's
when did the sabre blade (ok so that spelling gives me away as Australian I guess!) change from solid tip to rolled..
timeline for Wilkinson sword blades - i.e. types and categories - for the fencing types and the guards (as I have a few of their complete weapons and epee guard marked Wilkinson)
Has this ever been done?
Someone's thesis - the history of fencing equipment?!
It has become initially an interest in finding the info. and not an obsession (as yet) - any ideas?
I haven't contacted the suppliers as yet as it seems such a strange and obscure question and I am not sure what they would think on this one - I am not sure what I think some times...
I admit not too much interest by most fencers on discussion boards
Sorry guys this turned out to be a much longer first intro. email than I thought... and apologies if this isn't exactly the classical fencing type discussion butI look forward to any answers and to reading the remainder of your web pages on classical and looking to make (or at least try!!) some of the conferences or a club if I am lucky enough to be local.
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