How easy is it going to be to convert left handed foil to right handed? As far as I understand - I just replace handle/grip to the right handed one, and I should be all set, correct?
Depends on the bend of the tang (or cant), the amount of use the weapon has gotten, and how hard that use has been. If the weapon has had little or light use, and the blade itself hasn't taken much of a bend, and the tang is straight, and you like your tangs straight, then yes, you just need to switch the grip. Otherwise, if the tang is bent inward for a lefty, unless you are a freak of nature and bend your tang outward, you'll need to bend the tang to straight or inward as you like it. If the blade has seen a lot of use, and has taken a significant curve, you shouldn't even really bother unless it's going to be a club weapon or a practice weapon which you need nothing special out of.
Myself, if the weapon had been used at all hard, I wouldn't bother. If the weapon had a significant cant before, I wouldn't bother (I like a lot of cant in mine, and you can indeed break the tang that way, shockingly enough).
Oh, and you might need to cut the tang down if moving down in grip size, and you might just be SOL if moving up in grip size. I'd make sure of that before bending stuff.
The only thing you have to worry about is the cant. I disagree with keropie as the blade should be only be bending down, which won't matter changing from left to right. If it is bent another way, then it shouldn't be used by a left hander either. What keropie said about the cant, I do agree with.
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Donald Hollis Clinton, Jr. DHCJr@juno.com
To Teach is to Learn (Japanese Proverb)
Knowing the rule book by heart means nothing, if you don't understand the rules.
Not to play Devil's Advocate, especially since you (DHC) were the first armorer to ever help my poor mom out when we were on our own at these huge national tournaments etc. and hence have my undying appreciation, but I've definitely noticed that most people's foils develop a bend that is both downward and slightly inward (occasionally down and out if the fencer is prone to attacking from a saber 3 type position). This is especially true of a lot of the higher level foilists. I'll grant you that it's mitigated some by the fact that most high level foilists buy good FIE blades that don't take as much of a bend and also have to keep their blades somewhere close to the 1cm maximum, but it's still definitely present. I'd wager that it's noticeable in setting up a right handed weapon.
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I have to disagree with DHCjr as well with the bend of the blade some do develop a bend in them. Since I have 3 lefties in the family and have switch out blades for my right handeds the will tell there is a diffence in the blade action.
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Tim Loomis
Ye Olde Armourer MASTER ARMOURER
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Kinda have to go with Tim on this one. If this is a dry weapon, you can perhaps change the bend, but definately have to change the cant. If the blade is electric, you can't change the bend due to the relation of the bend and the wire groove.
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Kinda have to go with Tim on this one. If this is a dry weapon, you can perhaps change the bend, but definately have to change the cant. If the blade is electric, you can't change the bend due to the relation of the bend and the wire groove.
Yes, but which way is the bend. I was also playing devil's advocate. Look at the last paragraph of M.8. But I was also wanting a reason to mention below.
I know why many blades develop an illegal sideways curve. Watch someone put a blade under their foot to bend it and see if they keep the groove side parallel to the floor. They won't. A lot of the sideways curves come from that.
Being a team Armorer for over 25 years, I did not allow fencers to do that. I also had to switch weapons back and forth many time because we just couldn't afford a lot of extras. At the majority of meets, I had to switch at least one weapon. There were no appreciable curves in the sideways direction.
__________________
Donald Hollis Clinton, Jr. DHCJr@juno.com
To Teach is to Learn (Japanese Proverb)
Knowing the rule book by heart means nothing, if you don't understand the rules.
DHCJR when the first fie blades came out my wife who is a lefty develop a sidewards bend in her blade and not from running it underneath her foot either. Lefties has a habit of hitting their opponent different than a right handed fencer. My wife will put a S bend in her FIE blades it the way most left handed hit on the riposte that cause's the bend especially a classic fencer like Janet and the girls.
__________________
Tim Loomis
Ye Olde Armourer MASTER ARMOURER
DO YOU TRUST YOUR ARMOURER
GOD Loves His Warriors www.yeoldearmourer.com
Last edited by yeoldearmourer; 04-30-2006 at 03:28 PM..
One more thing. If the blade you're changing is already wired, be careful not to pinch the wire when you change the socket or put the grip on. Moving it from one side to the other leaves lots of opportunities for damage; I've done this at least three times.
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