epee french grip suggestions

[chippermonky]

Hi, I've been fencing for about 3 years now and have since switched to posting with a french grip epee (what else?). Of course, when I started, I just bought any blade which unfortunately is exactly the kind of blade that a most posters do not use. I have already made the decision of buying a heavier pommel, but I need suggestions on the grip. The grips I have are relatively straight, they look like this: http://www.thefencingpost.com/Pictur...Grips/FF25.JPG

I notice at tournaments that all the high level french grip fencers all seem to have slightly curved grips, my coach also says that it would be better. However, I do not know where to buy one nor what kind to get, can anyone offer me any suggestions?

Also, since I'm down to two blades and they are both dying, any suggestions on types of blade suited for posters. I currently use two FIE stms.

Thanks in advance.

[CvilleFencer]

In my area, in addition to the universal BF FIE's I see a lot of pommelers using Leon Paul, Prieur and Vniti blades. Not so much the StM for whatever reason. In addition to doing a search on this forum where blades have been discussed A LOT, in my division forum there was recently a pretty comprehensive list posted. The first long portion is on foils, but towards the end of the first page it gets into epee's as well. Check it out here: http://forum.va-usfa.org/forum.cgi?b...9912;start=0#0

As for pommels and grips, posting is not for me, although it is my nemesis. I have tried it a bit and have put some effort into understanding the twisted and evil psychology/technology of those dark side epeeist's who pursue this vile path. Many of the dark ones agree that the Shermasport 2 piece pommel, available from Negrinni, is one of the very best out there. For the grips what you would seem to want is a rubber or leather over metal that can be easily bent into a shape that works for your style. Negrinni and PBT both offer grips like this, although there are probably others as well. Another option for those handy with this sort of thing is to carve/dremmel one out for themselves in the shape/cant that they prefer and just run there own tang slot through it. If made out of a decent (sealed) hardwood it will be much more durable than anything of the shop bought ones and will feel just right. Plus you can add your own checkering or lining to increase your grip and feel or go with skate tape to practically glue it to your hands. DFP here on the board is a very handy wood worker and may be interested in taking on such a project if you contacted him about it and gave him a model to work from made from clay, wax or even soap. Avoid the plastic or wood cored shop bought grips as they seem inclined to break under the strain of pommeling.

Some of those newly risen to the dark side of epee seem to really like the Leon Paul carbon fiber grips but those who started out using more traditional grips do not seem to care for them much. One advantage to these grips in addition to light weight and more material to hold onto is that they can be used with tangs cut for pistol grips. I have tried them and found them to give better leverage in certain circumstances, but I find the square "tennis racket" profile of the grip to be uncomfortable and prefer the Shermasport 2 piece pommel and a rubber/metal grip. Not that I would ever think of stooping to the dark side of epee fencing. Much.

Anyway, hope that helps at least until a dedicated dark epeeist comes forward to comment.

[KD5MDK]

When you say your blades are dying, do you mean about to break or the wires are wearing out? The latter is easily fixed, the other requires replacement.

[remise]

I am one of the French Grip converts. I use a leather grip with a BF Blue FIE blade which is so well balanced it just begs to point forward on target.

[RITFencing]

I like PBT's french because it's very thick and I have a big hand.

[veeco]

Most of the French fencers that I know who use French grips will use one of two models of grips and pommels.

handles:
The Schermasport rubber over metal which is available through American Fencers in San Francisco
The Prieur/Cartel rubber over wood which is not available from any US vendor (as far as I know), but you can see picture of it here: http://www.cartel-escrime.com/catalo...pee_bois_m.jpg

The difference between them is the following:
The Schermasport is metal, so it can be bended anywhere alongside of the handle. However it is pretty thin, and I don't like how that feels in my hand (I have pretty large hands). It is also quite heavy, and I prefer to have as much weight in the pommel as possible, so that requires a quite heavy pommel to be balanced (more on that later). I also don't like the way the hole in its length for the tang is machined. It is always too small and is a pain to put in the tang, especially if you have bent it and unbent it a couple of times in order to mount it.

The Prieur/Cartel one is larger, so it fits my hands better. Because the inside is wood, they are ligther, and if the hole is too small it's fairly easy to run a file through it and make it larger. However, because it is wood, they tend to break a little more, and are impossible to bend.

In terms of recommendations, like I said on this issue before, I think it is better if you try out the two. In my opinion the others aren't really worth looking at, because they are either lower quality and cheap imitations, or are just not well designed enough to be ergonomic.

Now, moving on to the pommel choices.

In both cases, you will want as heavy of a pommel as you can find, but because the Schermasport are heavier, you need an even heavier one than for the Prieur/Cartel. You also need a pommel that has a good grip in your hand in order to prevent slippage.

IMO, it boils down to one pommel option for each handle. For the Schermasport handle, you need to use the 2 piece pommels sold at AmFence alongside the handle. Those are heavy enough, and if you like the girth of the Schermasport handle, they are pretty good in terms of grip. They also have little ridges on them that prevent slippage and allow fine finger work. Unfortunately they cost a lot, but those things are unbreakable, so it's a one time cost.

For the Prieur/Cartel you want the bronze looking ones: http://www.cartel-escrime.com/catalo..._isole_jpg.jpg
They are a little ligther, but that is not an issue with the fact that the handle is lighter as well. The one problem that they have is that they are a little slippery in your fingers. A good glove, made of leather (not the cheap crap from Allstar/Uhlmann) is of help here, as well as one layer of tip tape put around the pommel to give it some grip.

In terms of bending, you have to try it. Some people put a pretty pronounced bend in their grips, almost like a dogleg type of shape. Take a look at some of Milanoli's grips to have an idea of what I am talking about. This requires a lot of work, but you might like it. The bending is pretty easy to do: put the epee together, put the handle in, put the pommel in but don't tighten it too much, and then put the handle in a vice and work your way slowly until you get the bend you want to have.

With the Prieur/Cartel ones, the ones I am using, I put in a little bend at the junction between the pommel and the handle in a vice, and then tigthen the pommel. This gives me the grip I want, and doesn't make my point control funky.

[Mike O]

I recently converted to French grip for Epee and am enjoying the carbon fiber grip made by Leon Paul. It seemed like a good one to try out since I wasn't sure whether I wanted to switch to French and I could just bolt it onto one of my epees which are already cut for a pistol grip.

After a week or so of gradual adjustments to the tang and grip to get just the right offset in the grip, it began to feel good in my hand and my point control began to come back. After about a month of use, it began to feel really comfortable (after experimenting with different placement of my fingers) and my point control was dead on again.

I have since ordered several more and switched all my Epees over. I've recovered the grips with a tennis racket grip re-wrap that's far grippier and more durable than the wrap that comes on them -- I also rounded off one of the corners on the end of the grip with some sandpaper so that it no longer digs into my palm.

That being said -- I use Leon Paul epee blades and PBT ultra-light bell guards, which, combined with this grip, creates a REALLY light weapon, well suited for the tactics customary in the French game.

[WJM]

A ME fencer who reached the 8 of a recent world champs has some amazing double curving french grips unlike the LP and Scherma grips I've seen, I asked him about them and he has them hand made by this little man in Milan who I'm told sells things at the world champs, he calls his little company escrima milan? something like that, I can't recall exactly. I use Ulh. Visconti's, but I almost switched to french epees after seeing those grips!