Just To Make Conversation

[NewFencer]

Well, I'm obviously new to fencing. After reading the "weapons" post, I was wondering:
If I am just starting out in foil, with dry gear, and don't plan on compteting any time soon (God willing in maybe a year), then should I just carry a single weapon with a replacement blade?

[FencerInUS]

I have 2 complete dry weapons. Nothing more frustrating, and boreing than breaking a foil blade (which should'nt happen often in the first place) and then having to put one together, hunting for tools, trying to get enough torque to tighten the pommel/nut. 2 weapons: "ooops one broke, be right back coach" *2 seconds passes* "Ok on with the lesson."

[NewFencer]

So it's a bit of trouble, then, changing a foil blade?

What do you have to do (I've never had to do it)?

[FencerInUS]

It ins'nt that difficult if you have the correct tools. (this is true of dry foils. Electric is another story) Its more of a pain in the arse.
really all you have to do is for french, with a cresent unscrew the pommel; remove the handle, pad, and guard; and put them on the new blade in the order guard, pad, handle and then screw the pommel back on. With a pistol grip, its pretty much the same but in place of the wrench, you'll need an allen wrench.
Anyone else have anything to add that I may have missed?

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F.I.US.
Parry, THEN riposte
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[Moonitic]

I have two dry foils myself. When you're in the heat of the moment & your foil breaks, do you REALLY want to sit your butt down & replace the blade? Or do you want to just grab another weapon & continue your bout? Answer those questions & you have the answer to your question.

Personally, I'd rather get back on the strip & worry about fixing weapons later.

[Lumberg]

When I started in fencing, I was doing dry only fencing for 9 months. I went through a couple blades. It wasn't until about four months later that I found bringing two weapons to practices a good idea.
Then, when you get into electric, I would suggest getting three weapons. One main one, one for back up, one to back-up the first back-up. When the main one breaks, the back-up becomes the main weapon, and the back-up to the back-up becomes the main back-up. When the broken weapon gets fixed, that becomes the back-up to the back-up. And so on. I could go on with a ton of various scenarios but I won't. However, if you have four weapons, you have one main weapon, and then... just kidding.

[Dogstar]

When I was doing dry i think the hardest thing was geting the rubber tip to go over the tip of a new blade. I often had to file the metal smaller befor it would go on. other than that rebiulding a dry french was a breeze.

[Clean Touch]

I've heard that if you boil the new tip in water first the plastic softens enough to put the tip on without tearing it.

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Est-ce que l'attaque bon? Mais Oui!!

[Mergs]

I just got back from 7 months in Bosnia with the Army. I brought my equipment with me, which consisted of some of my old dry weapons. A fencer from Germany was posted there and brought his stuff down and we ended up working out every day. We ended up breaking 8 blades in four months! Unfortunately we didn't have backups, so we had some down time until his wife or AFS could ship us spares (yes, we got more than one blade at a time!)(NOTE: two of the blades we got were France Lames, brand new, they lasted about a month! Something has happened to their quality, not that it was stellar in the first place!). Needless to say, my advice is the more the better!

As for the plastic tips, roll it around in your mouth and force some saliva in the hole before you put it on the weapon.

Good fencing!

[Rick]

I have two dry foils... one with a French grip, the other's a visconti. I like to use the french to help keep the basics of gripwork and point control fresh in mind. But the visconti adds variety of tactics as well... easier to circle parry and to envelope. Having 2 foils may be more than just a matter of convenience. Besides, can anyone ever have enough weapons in their bag?

[Stryder]

Re: the rubber tips on dry foils

Some people suggest wetting the rubber tips so they slide on easier.

Try putting a drop of glue inside the tip, Duco works best.

[Mergs]

Hey Rick, if you do it properly, you can do envelopments and circular parries equally as well with a french grip as you can with visconti. Just not as powerfully. OBTW, I carry 5 foils, 4 epees and two sabers in my bag.

[epeetaph]

Ah, gather the weapons you can in life...for all too soon, ye shall be soon parted with them. *translation: it never hurts to have a saber handy, just in case someone around you is stupid...but when you REALLY want to fence, epee is the way to go *

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"Get thee down. Be thou funky."
-Anon

[Gav]

I think you've got it about right. You shouldn't be going thru' that many blades, so a set of whites, mask and a dry foil should be enough. Personally I didn't buy any weapons till I started competing seriously (after about a year) just used the club ones which I borrowed if i went to small practice tourney.

Don't weigh yourself down with heavy bags till you have to.

[This message has been edited by Gav (edited 11-30-2000).]