Rubber or Leather French Grip

[lemon__fresh]

If you had to choose between a leather or rubber french grip for your epee which would you pick?

[veeco]

I use the rubber ones all the time. They aren't too solid (they break easily) but have the right amount of thickness for my hands, and the grip lasts longer than for the leather ones.

[LordShout]

I prefer the leather grips, they don't last that long but while they last I love there feel. Once they become polished to a smoothness its time to retire them to beignner weapons. The best french grips I've ever used however are wrapped rope or wrapped leather and rope grips, even once polished by use they still grip your glove and they are comfortable.

[lemon__fresh]

more grip than rubber? ive heard that the leather absorbs moisture better
but they can be sumwhat slimmer in diameter :/

[lemon__fresh]

well it seems that the poll has become dead even, so im thinkin it mostly comes down to personal preference

thanks for the input every1

oh and if any1 has any opinions on the subject post away!

[CvilleFencer]

The only way I would use a French grip would be for pommeling an epee. For that I am pretty firmly dedicated to the idea that the "Coach Reith", AKA "Sex Toy" surgical tubbing over metal grips (available from Absolute) used with a hooked/curved tang bend and a Schermasport 2 piece pommel is the way to go.

Also a pretty expensive way to go, as just the grip and pommel can set you back close to $60 bucks before blade/guard/socket get added into the mix. But a pommeled French I can flick, take, beat and bind with? Priceless...

[lemon__fresh]

and thats legal?

[rory]

If it doesn't protrude below the edge of the guard and is <= 18cm in length, yes.

I use LP-style "tennis racket" handles with tennis racket tape wrapped round.
Longer reach, nice'n'light and you can flick with them.

[lemon__fresh]

yea those are nice, damn expensive though

[Zesty]

If I had to use one, it would be a rubber grip. I find that they feel more comfortable, are softer and don't slip in my hand. However, under every circumstance I would choose a pistol or orthopedic grip over a french grip (just don't really like the way they feel).

[french grip foilist]

I use the pbt french grips on all my weapons. They are really nice and help balance out your weapon but are expensive for a french grip and can be a pain to get on sometimes.

[Monash_Armourer]

Originally Posted by CvilleFencer

The only way I would use a French grip would be for pommeling an epee. For that I am pretty firmly dedicated to the idea that the "Coach Reith", AKA "Sex Toy" surgical tubbing over metal grips (available from Absolute) used with a hooked/curved tang bend and a Schermasport 2 piece pommel is the way to go.

Also a pretty expensive way to go, as just the grip and pommel can set you back close to $60 bucks before blade/guard/socket get added into the mix. But a pommeled French I can flick, take, beat and bind with? Priceless...

I'm certianly not going to be walking into an adult shop to source parts for my epee. I don't think I even want to imagine that conversation with the store clerk or trying out different "grips". And to be perfectly honest I'd feel a bit odd pommelling with this kind of grip.

However the thought of both presenting such a weapon for inspection before a tournament or such a purchase for club weapons appearing on the audit I have to present to Monash Uni each year, does proviide me with some amusement.

That said, leather does have it's appeal...

[Vince]

I use the Coach Reith grip on all of my weapons, although, since he is my coach, maybe I'm a little biased.

[Monash_Armourer]

Originally Posted by Vince

I use the Coach Reith grip on all of my weapons, although, since he is my coach, maybe I'm a little biased.

How did this concept come to fruition anyway? I'm morbidly curious...

[CvilleFencer]

Originally Posted by Monash_Armourer

How did this concept come to fruition anyway? I'm morbidly curious...

A guys said something along the lines of "Hey, how come there are no French grips out there for people who pommel, or at the very least are not 5'2" tall Frenchman with hands like a 12 year old girl?" After asking that question and hearing a resounding silence, he made his own. Like, from my understanding literally makes his own...

The downside is that there can be a fair bit of variation in size/cant/curve from one to the other and some are more durable than others, depending on how the metal got cast in that batch. Still, one of the best options out for many of us unless you want to go the LP Carbon Fiber grip route.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by Monash_Armourer

How did this concept come to fruition anyway? I'm morbidly curious...

I'll ask him the specifics when he gets back from Summer Nationals, but I believe it was spurred by the lack of a decent alternative AKA, "There's gotta be a better way..."

[The Rose Knight]

Leather. Accept no substitute.... aside from the LP carbon fibre.

[Seanie Tyrone]

Leather.

[Ormus]

I also would have to agree that leather is superior. My reasons include:
1. Leather was used for hundreds of years by duelists and swordfighters.
Sometimes newer is not neccesarily better.
2. The French grip is all about blade contol through finger manipulation(a lost art in the modern world of pistol grips). You can't properly control your blade with rubber, there is too much grip and it restricts finger movement.

[forethought]

Originally Posted by Ormus

You can't properly control your blade with rubber, there is too much grip and it restricts finger movement.

I don't know how you hold your grips, or what kind of rubber grips you're using, but I can use my fingers to manipulate the point just fine on my foil that has a rubber Uhlmann French grip.

The point isn't moved by your fingers sliding along the grip, it's moved by your fingers pushing/pulling the grip, which, in my experience, is a bit easier with rubber.