Are fencers attracted to swords

[jjefferies]

Hosted a party this evening and was showing off my collection of wall hangers when a young woman asked if a somewhat perplexing question, Are most fencers attracted to swords?
Not fencing foils but honest 'epee d'combat', i.e. fighting swords. Or are foils just the equivalent of tennis rackets for a sport you play at?
Yes you are attracted to swords (for whatever reason)
No you regard foils as mere sporting equipment.

[LUDICROUS]

Hmmm. Yes.

Then again, a fencing epee/foil is merely an instrument of my unstoppable and vengeful will.

[JackOfHearts]

I'll be the first to say it... this poll is flawed. I regard foils and fencing as sporting equipment and a sport, yet I still have a fascination with fighting swords as well.

[downunder]

No, I regard foils and fencing as just sporting equipment and a sport.

[Zilverzmurfen]

No, I regard foils and fencing as just sporting equipment and a sport.

Yeah, what he said.


And the same goes for épées and sabres, by the way...

[Nicolas]

One day I'd like to buy one of these rapiers and learn to fence with that :

http://www.armae.com/moderne/133epees.htm

I've also got an interest in medieval swords and armours, but I don't owe anything of that type, juste two foils...

[Rapier_wit]

I would've thought that would've had an obvious answer. I trained in rapier before I started doing electric fencing. I have a spanish broadsword sitting in my closet right now and a marine dress sword hanging on my wall. So, yes I do believe we fencers have an unhealthly fascination with swords (why else would we go around poking each other with epees for fun?)

[Sciurus-Rex]

I dated a sword once. It didn't go well. We parted ways after just two months.

But I'm still attracted to swords, and I'd approach one again if the opportunity presents itself.

[schlager7]

If fencing was just another sport, I'd probably just shoot baskets

(with a handgun... just for the sport of it)

To be truthful, the heritage and history is part of the interest I have with fencing. My wife and I each have our own rapier and daggger and we have a couple of arming swords which we use in choreographed historical fencing routines with some friends.

We also collect antiques. We own:

a late 18th century smallsword
a US cavalry sabre circa the Mexican War
a pair of matched glockensabels
a pauksabel
and, of course, the fraternity schlager you see on my avatar.

So, while we are also into historical and stage fencing, we have also served as division officers or functionaries, referee locally, and generally operate in the sports milieu, as well.

[sabreur]

Sabres are sporting equipment, with a connection to about 150 years of sporting and agonistic tradition.

I own a pair of matched dueling sabres, a single example of a dueling sabre, a pair of dueling swords (Italian style), a Patton saber and four matched sets of 19C fencing sabres.

The wording of the poll is flawed, and I doubt seriously that there are very many modern sport fencers who aren't at least somewhat interested in the heritage of their sport.

[Amadeus]

only as objects related to the sport of fencing.

let's face it, fencing memorabilia is nearly impossible to get hold of. If i had a foil from 1950, i'd post that on the wall. But sometimes, a sword is the best one can do.

(actually, i don't have anything like that. But if I could, i would.)

[Katman]

Yah swords are nifty, and yes I just consider my foils sporting equipment and fencing as a sport.

Both really, though I wouldn't go out of my way to buy or own any replicas or otherwise real swords.

I should have voted number two.

[little_old_me]

Well, I currently own a wakasashi (sp?) and just bought my brother a rapier for Christmas. I'm currently shopping around for a katana and a rapier for my self. I think a fascination with swords and knives in general is what got me into fencing.

[downunder]

The wording of the poll is flawed, and I doubt seriously that there are very many modern sport fencers who aren't at least somewhat interested in the heritage of their sport.

here's one

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I used to be into swords and ninjas and crap, but now I dont really give a damn. Its a sport to me.

[prototoast]

here's one

Seconded.

[slain4sooth]

... ran into a couple of guys fencing with SCA-legal replica rapiers in a parking lot one day, went up to them and examined the equipment. i find the idea appealing but too dangerous, will *never* fence with an implement that is too rigid. but they're what informed the sport. how could one deny interest?

[schlager7]

Let me add that I also enjoy collecting the antiques of our sporting side. I've some really old Italian grip foils and a pair of 19th century foils with the old lunette guards.

I'm currently hunting about for one of those late 19th/early 20th century epees with the small, almost bullet-shaped guards, the ones where the blade came through the center of the guard like a foil.

This is to be expected, I also enjoy antiques, history and run a local fencing history site.

[Cerian]

I suppose I was into swords and such when I was a kid, but that had nothing to do with why I started fencing and, with regards to fencing, I could care less about any martial history. I picked up fencing as a sport, I view fencing as a sport. In fact, when I was more into the whole fantasy/chivalry thing, I had no interest in fencing when my parents suggested it as something to try; and when I decided to start the sport on my own, I had long ago lost interest in sword catalogues, rennaisance faires, and fantasy novels... Somewhat paradoxical, I guess.

[Inquartata]

Yes, interested in swords, and in fact all things hoplological. Spears. Axes. Polearms. Daggers. Bows and crossbows. You name it. Plus armour. Shields. Etc.

SCA rapiers are not dangerous to play with, if you wear the required armour and aren't channeling Conan the Barbarian.