Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

drippingwet · 01-06-2005, 04:36 PM

I just had a look at LP site and unless you buy a complete foil, it looks like you can't choose your handedness for blades on their own, which is obviously important with blades that come with a set in the tang, like my Golubitsky Pro.

Anyway, I'm not actually looking to buy a new blade. I've got a LP budget maraging which doesn't have any set, so this may be a stupid question, but I could just replace my right handed grip with a left handed one, yes?

(I'm interested in training with my left hand as well).

Thanks.

veeco · 01-06-2005, 05:01 PM

You can recant a right handed blade into a left handed one. I am surprised you say the Golubitsky blades come already canted. Everyone uses a different cant on their blade than their neighbor, so it's quite surprising the Golubistky blades would be an exception, unless there is something that I am missing.

***Craig*** · 01-06-2005, 05:12 PM

Individual blades come with a straight tang and you would bend it to your own specifications.

drippingwet · 01-06-2005, 08:24 PM

Oh sorry, I remember now, yeah, my Golubitsky was a complete foil when I got it.

Actually, why the need for the angulation. I'm not saying I don't like it, but I don't find a straight tang bad at all. Maybe a set would be better for flicks. Do some people prefer a straight tang?

Insipiens · 01-06-2005, 08:45 PM

the set puts the point more directly on target (especially RH to RH or LH to LH) than would otherwise be the case.

mrbiggs · 01-06-2005, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippingwet

Do some people prefer a straight tang?

I do. I prefer to have my point go exactly where I'm pointing, not where I'm pointing, then down and to the left.

cowpaste · 01-06-2005, 11:30 PM

Straight tangs give a slight edge when counter-attacking. :P

Alex_Paul · 01-07-2005, 04:10 AM

If you want either a stiff or flexible blade (or indeed one somewhere in the middle) you can put this in the additional comments section during checkout and we will do our best to pick somthing suitable.
If you buy the flickmaster you can select flexibility from a drop down list.

LUDICROUS · 01-07-2005, 04:24 AM

Is it possible to buy stiff flickmasters?

Well, all jest aside, is it?

***Craig*** · 01-07-2005, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insipiens

the set puts the point more directly on target (especially RH to RH or LH to LH) than would otherwise be the case.

The cant also helps you to get the proper bend in the blade when you make the hit.

Insipiens · 01-07-2005, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

The cant also helps you to get the proper bend in the blade when you make the hit.

which should make the blade last longer.

tsalyards · 01-07-2005, 01:16 PM

Not canting your blade is pure lunacy. You might as well fence with a yard stick with a monkey paw jammed on the end of it.

veeco · 01-07-2005, 01:28 PM

The reason why different people like a different cant is because people have different shaped hands and wrists. The cant makes it possible to hold the blade in the most natural position possible for your wrist and fingers, while still having the blade and point going in the correct direction. This is especially important while doing your extensions. I find that with a blade correctly canted for me I can extend and hit with much more precision than without it.

drippingwet · 01-07-2005, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex_Paul

If you want either a stiff or flexible blade (or indeed one somewhere in the middle) you can put this in the additional comments section during checkout and we will do our best to pick somthing suitable.
If you buy the flickmaster you can select flexibility from a drop down list.

Ooh, thanks for that, didn't know. Thought I'd have to buy in person if I wanted to choose the flexibility of anything other than Flickmasters.

Alain · 01-07-2005, 07:52 PM

The purpose of setting a blade is to make your point point slightly inwards, towards your (intended) target. You can always set the blade yourself; use either a vice or a ring spanner (or you could always ask your dad to do it). Once you get the set/cant you're comfortable with, if that blade breaks then keep it for future reference.

Having said that, I do know a couple of (CRAZY) people who prefer fencing without a set in their blade, although I can't believe anyone would choose to use an un-set blade?!?! Madness. Having said that, everyone's different...

As for the flexibility of the blade, this is not only specific to the make and type of blade, but also to the individual blade itself. As Alex said, you can always ask for a more flexible/stiff blade when ordering by phone or over the 'Net, but if you have the opportunity then it's always best to go to the stall and pick out your new toy by yourself. In French, there's a saying that "on n'est jamiais mieux servi que par soi-même", you're never better served than by yourself!

All the best

The Armourer · 01-10-2005, 06:07 AM

I was taught by John Llewellyn to set the cant of the blade for an individual by putting a loose handle on the tang and getting the person to shut their eyes and then extend their arm as if to hit a target directly in front of them. You adjust the cant until the point of the blade ends up in the same place as if they had kept their eyes open to extend their arm. Its a good system - check it yourself. Take your weapon now, close your eyes and extend your arm - open your eyes, is the point where you thought it was? If not perhaps your cant could benefit from a 'tweak'.