Just pulled this from the Fencing sites list!

[Gav]

Very odd, judging by the [really] poor translation buy Babelfish this is a German leather working company who do some [CF?] fencing leatherwork! Wouldn't like to wear it whilst doing Epee!

<a href="http://www.leder-hoffmann.de/coul.html" target="_blank">www.leder-hoffmann.de/coul.html</a>

BTW If one of the German speakers could post an approximation of what the site is going on about I'd appreciate it. I'm just too curious I guess.

[ 06-09-2002: Message edited by: Gav ]

[ 06-10-2002: Message edited by: Gav ]</p>

[neevel]

They're all kit for Mensur. The coif + mask assemblies up top are for the Seconds, whose job includes blocking illegal shots made by the duellists and thus requires full face protection.

-Dave

[fred]

The plastron goes OVER the shoulder? What's the point of that?

[Gav]

ahhh... I see. I thought the whole point of Schlager fencing was to score by hitting your opponents in the face?

Typical Schlager fencers only wore goggles and the resulting scars were badges of honour.

[ 06-10-2002: Message edited by: Gav ]</p>

[neevel]

In Mensur the only exposed target is the lower face and scalp. In addition to the goggles to protect the eyes, ears, and nose, you wear the heavy leather and maille gear seen to protect your neck, body, arms, and hands. Basically, everything except the designated target is safely covered-- they don't want anyone dying from a slashed major artery or the like.

-Dave

[schlager7]

Neevel said:
[quote]they don't want anyone dying from a slashed major artery or the like. <hr></blockquote>

Good point, not only for safety. The mensuren have been variously outlawed and restored to legal status over the years. I recall German law forbids duelling. The mensur does not count as a true duel since there are enough sageguards taken that a fatality would only occur by accident as in several other forms of physical activity...

[Spanky]

ok...so i am about to bare my ignorance, but here goes. i know the folks who mensur (if 'mensur' can be used as a verb?), do so in order to go through a trialkand have momentoes of the event, but what are the rules? it was mentioned that seconds block illegal cuts. what makes a cut illegal?