Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Firedraconian · 03-09-2005, 03:01 PM

I'm just learning how to fence, and my intructor recommended that I get my own foil, because my school doesn't have a very large fencing club. So, he recommended that I get it at http://www.zenwarriorarmory.com/index.htm, 'cause that's where he got his. The problem is, I have almost no idea WHAT the hell I'm doing. All I know is I have to get a foil, so a four-sided blade, and that the guard should be closed, not open. Other then that, I'm lost. I don't wanna get the basic one for $45, because I'm a poor college student and I don't want to get yet another one later on, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend either a premade one or a combination of parts that would give me a decent beginner foil, but one that's also good enough so I can continue to use it when I get more experienced. And cool-looking would be nice, too.

wpotere · 03-09-2005, 03:09 PM

I am assuming that you are fencing SCA and not sport fencing right? You probably should specify what you are doing so that you get a better response from everyone.

Purple Fencer · 03-09-2005, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firedraconian

I'm just learning how to fence, and my intructor recommended that I get my own foil, because my school doesn't have a very large fencing club. So, he recommended that I get it at http://www.zenwarriorarmory.com/index.htm, 'cause that's where he got his. The problem is, I have almost no idea WHAT the hell I'm doing. All I know is I have to get a foil, so a four-sided blade, and that the guard should be closed, not open. Other then that, I'm lost. I don't wanna get the basic one for $45, because I'm a poor college student and I don't want to get yet another one later on, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend either a premade one or a combination of parts that would give me a decent beginner foil, but one that's also good enough so I can continue to use it when I get more experienced. And cool-looking would be nice, too.

Are you doing Olympic or theatrical style?? Your post feels Olympic, but the link is to a theatrical site.

A foil is rectangular in cross-section (hence, 4-sided). $45 is what I sell a complete dry (practice) foil for...regardless of where you go, make sure you tell the vendor if you're right or left-handed....it makes a differance in the grip (your instructor will tell you to get a French grip....guaranteed).

If you're doing theatrical style, you might end up eventually getting what I call a "stage sabre", which is a dry epee blade mounted on a sabre guard and grip. The stage combat team at SwordPlay uses them for training all the time.

Firedraconian · 03-09-2005, 03:17 PM

Oh, sorry. It's SCA. It's not theatrical, we're really fencing, but it's not olympic or sport either.

rsy · 03-09-2005, 03:20 PM

It would help to know where you are located as a fencing supply house may be located near you and also, assuming that you are looking for sport fencing equipment and not theatrical/SCA, do you want a dry foil (that is a practice blade) or a wired blade (that is one that can be used for competition)? If you also need a mask, glove, jacket, body cord, etc, you can save money by buying a package.

-r

Firedraconian · 03-09-2005, 03:41 PM

Upstate New York.
And... I have no idea. I just started, so I have no idea what the difference is between the practice and the wired. All the foils I've seen used were just the four-sided bendable blades with a rubber tip on the end.

Purple Fencer · 03-09-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsy

It would help to know where you are located as a fencing supply house may be located near you and also, assuming that you are looking for sport fencing equipment and not theatrical/SCA, do you want a dry foil (that is a practice blade) or a wired blade (that is one that can be used for competition)? If you also need a mask, glove, jacket, body cord, etc, you can save money by buying a package.

-r

Looks like you guys posted your replies at the same time!

Since it's SCA you;re doing, the differance between dry and wired is a moot point (just an FYI, "dry" is just a hunk of steel with the rubber tip. "Wired" refers t the fact that the weapon has a springloaded point that is connected to a wire (2 wires in epee) and through that wire to an electrical scoring box used to determine if a hit was on target or not.

Firedraconian · 03-09-2005, 05:17 PM

Oh! I'd just be using dry, then. Our club is small, like I said, so we don't have any electronic scoring.

What I'm mainly interested in would be things like what kind of handle to pick, what quillions are and if I would want those, and whether a double crown guard is better then a bell-shaped one.

Moses · 03-09-2005, 06:03 PM

1) Quillions -- Metal crossbars designed to deflect opposing blades away to protect the sword hand and often used as places to grip the weapon with the fingers. You'd probably want those (they can make the weapon look better, anyway).

2) A bell guard affords a little more protection than the double-crown, but the double-crown is prettier, depending on the design (and in general, I think).

I suppose these options cost more, so weigh the costs versus the chances of you actually needing the extra protection/aesthetics.

Good luck!

-Da Mose

P.S. And conerning the grip: you'd have to ask your instructor and see what feels best for you.