bayonet vs two prong

[EnoYls]

which is better? what are the pros and cons of each? I've heard from an experienced fencer to use bayonet, then I came back to my fencing club and they were using two prong. the armorer said they were more reliable. so what's up?

[damianip]

As an armorer for my club I'd say use whatever those around you use, it's easier to borrow body cords and weapons in a pinch.

The two prongs, if from a good manufacturer, are pretty reliable. Cheap ones are useless.

Bayonets are more elegant, less bulky and theoretically more reliable, but tougher to fix and, in salles where I've fenced, rarer. This, of course, varies with location.

Paolo

[tsalyards]

Can't go wrong with a German two prong. Bayonet sockets are more difficult to fix by far...a caveman could figure out how to fix a two prong body cord (I can do it!).

-Tad

[This message has been edited by tsalyards (edited 01-25-2001).]

[EnoYls]

tsalyards, you are a caveman?

[neevel]

German two-prong is the best choice-- the parts are well machined and durable, the retaining mechanism works, and it will give problems with the least amount of frequency. The one downside is that when a simple problem like a loose set screw does occur, you can't fix it on the strip because you need to dissassemble the plug to get at anything. Imitation German 2-prongs aren't as reliable because the machining of the pins and set screws is poorer (they loosen up more frequently). The Blue Gauntlet 2-prongs are okay (but not as good as Uhlmann or Allstar), but avoid the solid-pin 2-prongs that Blade and others sell-- the pins get easily bent out of shape and won't make a good contact in the plug.

Bayonet is a bit less reliable than German 2 prong-- on the foil plug there are more screws to keep tight (4-- the two wire contact screws and the C-line and B-line screws on the front of the plug), and more contact surfaces in the plug that can get dirty (the washer, spring, and base are all part of the C-line circuit). The screws are all readily accessible, though (just pull back the rubber boot to get to the wire screws), so they can be quickly tightened when they need to. It does stay in the socket fairly well, but there are a couple of nibs in the plastic wall of the socket that hold the plug in place; when they get worn away the plug will easily twist and pop out. Don't buy anything but Leon Paul or Uhlmann/Allstar bayonet plugs and sockets-- the cheaper knockoffs will be quite troubleprone.

I find that Prieur 2-prong has the most problems with contact screws loosening up, and the lack of an effective method to keep them in the socket (the cheap plastic clip doesn't do a good job, assuming it hasn't gotten lost) is the biggest disadvantage. The one upside is that the screws are the easiest to get to when they do need tightening.

I use bayonet on my foils, to keep compatible with club foils, which are bayo. Since it'd cost me at least a couple hundred dollars to switch all the club weapons and body cords over to Uhlmann 2-prong, I put up with the greater maintenance needs for bayo.

-Dave Neevel

[This message has been edited by neevel (edited 01-25-2001).]

[Clean Touch]

I have to agree with neevel and tsalyards. I use bayonet myself, but my salle is moving towards the german two-prong. But I like by bayonets just fine and unles they fall apart and crumble into dust I think I'm going to stick with them.

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

[Purple Fencer]

My first cord was a bayonet because that was what was available. It worked well for foil, however I do sabre as well and the nature of sabre combat kinda kept destroying the socket. I switched to two prong and have not had that problem since. In addition, I don't have to double cord on those days I;m doing both sabre and foil.

Now epee, on the other hand...

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I'll be mellow when I'm
DEAD!

[MattyCam]

Go bayonet. I only say that because when you're at tournaments or just around your club, there will always be some jackass who doesn't have a working bodycord. Becasue, 2 prong is so much easier to deal with, almost never do those people have a bayonet socket. Yeah, it's kinda destructive reason to justify not using 2 prong...but to tell you the truth, I'm over it.

--MattyCam

[MikeHarm]

My problem with German Two prong is the metal weapon clip it comes with. Its held by a little screw that is easilly damaged. My first time using one in fact someone tagged the screw of the metal weapon retaining clip with their foil and sproing, I ended up with a useless body cord.
I like the french two prong better than the german varient as the plastic weapons clip they have isn't damaged as easilly and since its fastened to your weapons which you probably more of than body cords you're not in as bad a fix.
However, after having tried all three, I've settled on the bayonet socket for my foil weapons as has my club. While harder to fix once they do break they seem a lot less likely to need fixing which is the issue which is most important to me.

Mike

[edew]

There's a new two-prong I saw either at the Blue Gauntlet or Physical Chess table at Ontario or Greensboro. It's shaped and works just like the Uhlmann two prong, but has a removable shell (screwed on) and is transparent so that you can see whether there is a break in the connection, and you can perform the reconnection without having to remove the retaining clip. That might be a better way to go at it.

Also, get the newer german wires, the older ones (if there are any left) were very soft and tend to break, causing a broken circuit at flex points.

[damianip]

Eric,

I think I saw the same item at our JO qualifiers. The one I saw was the "Mr. Chen Easy-to-Fix" plugs, which would be from Blue Gauntlet.

Looks promising.

Paolo

[vegan]

Eric Dew and Others,
I saw the "Mr. Chen easy to fix" body wire at the greenville NAC, and while I was impresed with the design, the plastic ends are a little to brittle. One fencer was using this, sat down after a pool bout with the end in his knicker pocket and cracked the end in two.
Having said this- If Mr. chen changes the material for the next batch of them- I'm buying enough to replace all my body wires, and enough to replace all the clubs as well!!!
Regards
Ben

[belligerent_sorceress]

our team uses german 2-prong. we used to have an assortment of bayonet and 2-prong, which were french-wired, but recently switched over when our weapons shipment came in.

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Melissa

"You can beat me, you can bind me, but you can't touch me!

[swordsen]

I personally go witht he Prieur two prong. I have used the german style and find them to be a real pain to fix when something eventually goes wrong (and it will) same for the bayonet.
The Biggest problem with the Prieur style two prong is the little brass screw dropping out. Wrap a piece of tape around the plug and the problem is solved. And It is easy to unwrap and check the tightness of the screws before every tournament. (or round, or DE bout)