Grips (Zivkovic).

[FencerGuy900]

In my club there are a couple people who have hand problems. Something to do with a tendon. Anyway, they bought a grip from Zivkovic that has a palm paddle of sorts and they havn't been bothered sence. Do you know anything about this?

[Welted 24/7]

You must mean the Z and the Z2. I would imagine it's since there's no ridges to lock the hand down into one unmoving position, it's a little easier on the hand. I never really noticed a difference since I never had a problem with the tendons in my hands. My KNEES, however, are a totally different story.

Just a general warning to issue to your clubmates, though- the grips are pretty brittle. I accidentally dropped one once and the top prong snapped off just like that.

[Bran]

In my club there are a couple people who have hand problems. Something to do with a tendon. Anyway, they bought a grip from Zivkovic that has a palm paddle of sorts and they havn't been bothered sence. Do you know anything about this?

You might be thinking of these:

Zivkovic Z handle: http://www.zivkovic.com/item.jsp?web_id=420
Zivkovic ZII handle: http://www.zivkovic.com/item.jsp?web_id=422

The ZII has a slightly larger "paddle".

Bran

[Cipher]

I have yet to try the total paddle styles like the Z and ZII, but I currently use the KII. It doesn't aggrovate my carpel tunnel the way other handles can, so it may be a similar case to what your clubmates are experiencing. This only applies to foil however. I just don't like the way they feel for epee. I've even gone all the way up to BII for epee and it still didn't offer the strength advantage that a viscounti does. I'm all over Ziv handles for foil though.

[Frank Pratt]

I have yet to try the total paddle styles like the Z and ZII, but I currently use the KII. It doesn't aggrovate my carpel tunnel the way other handles can, so it may be a similar case to what your clubmates are experiencing. This only applies to foil however. I just don't like the way they feel for epee. I've even gone all the way up to BII for epee and it still didn't offer the strength advantage that a viscounti does. I'm all over Ziv handles for foil though.

I agree. Good for foil, too weak for epee.

[aikijohn]

After having found Zivkovic grips, I've put Zs and ZIIs on all four of my epees. As others have mentioned, I did so because of arthritis in my fingers, which would take on a "death grip" when using other style handles and believe me, I've tried them all. Personally, I have not had a problem with any fragility of materials, although I've had to either expand the square holes that accomodate the blade tangs, or shave down the tangs themselves to get them all the way through the handles. I love Zivkovic; I've had great luck with their handles, wired blades and service.

[howtobrew]

I know a couple epeeists at our club who use the Z handle. I am predominately a french gripper, but I like the Z when I decide to go against some of the more aggressive kids.

The only flaw with them I have found is that the tang hole is not square enough to take an LP tang (it worked for StM) and I had to take a square file to it. And the wire relief cutout had to be enlarged.

[Welted 24/7]

wired blades

Really? Maybe the wiring jobs have improved since I've gotten them, but my foils were done terribly. I got them in the middle of January and took them to the JOs. They had seen maybe a total of two weeks of use. During my second pool bout, the wire on one of them popped out of the groove and broke. A week later, the other one died in a similar fashion. I swear I ended up spending more fixing those damn things than I did buying them.

[KD5MDK]

Is there a place that would have a decent stock of Zivkovic handles (in lefty)? I'd like to find out what best suits me in case I ever end up deciding to play with Epee, but without holding them in your hand I have no confidence in deciding which I'd like best.

[WhipLash]

why don't u order directly from them? www.zivhovic.com
or private msg Bran.

[Frank Pratt]

why don't u order directly from them? www.zivhovic.com
or private msg Bran.

That's the best way; I'm not sure if you can get them anywhere else.

[Zilverzmurfen]

That's the best way; I'm not sure if you can get them anywhere else.

I got mine from allstar GER, but that's probably not the smoothest way for an american to get them.

[KD5MDK]

why don't u order directly from them? www.zivhovic.com
or private msg Bran.

Because I'm located in Texas, and they're in Massachusetts. I don't want to order online or mail order unless I know exactly which model I want, and I won't know that unless I can hold each one in hand. I guess I was hoping for a closer vendor.

[Welted 24/7]

They've had a stand at both of the national events I've gone to(Cleveland JOs and Charlotte), so you can probably check them out at the next big one.

[Aestro]

I love my Zivkovic Z, and it always draws some attention at practice and sometimes tournaments. It's a novelty to some, an abomination to others, and a godsend to me. The blade mobility it gives has allowed me a much more loose grip than I had on my Belgian. I agree that I don't really see the Z being too hot on an epee, but then again I did just switch to Visconti there, so a Zivvy might not bee too far off on my epee either.

I should note I have small hands for a guy (usually range on a medium glove, but have worn small) and that most other males hate the Z simply because it doesn't fit. Others need a little wrist support.

[Bran]

Is there a place that would have a decent stock of Zivkovic handles (in lefty)? I'd like to find out what best suits me in case I ever end up deciding to play with Epee, but without holding them in your hand I have no confidence in deciding which I'd like best.

You could try speaking with Scott at Sword Masters. He'd be the closest person to you who would have a nice selection of our handles. You're in Texas, he's in Louisiana.

http://www.sword-masters.com

[KD5MDK]

Thanks, the Harkey's come as tournament vendors to several tournaments in the area.

[FencingKitten]

I love my fellow club member's Zivkovic KII's for foil - I have the same death-grip problem soemone else mentioned above, and his foils are pure relief for me, since they're all fitted with those KIIs.

Now if only they would make nice ergonomic sabre grips that will quit destroying my wrist.

[Welted 24/7]

Er...I really don't think it's the handle, or even your grip if your WRIST is bothering you. If anything, your hand should be cramping up if you have a kung-fu death grip on a sabre.