Sabre Armoring

[Broman86]

I recently had to take over armory duties for my Sabre squad and needless to say, it is not complicated work. Unfortunately, one of the new electric Sabres I put together is having the problem of constantly setting off the off-target light on the box. This does not prevent scoring in any way, but would make it unusable at tournaments and is causing me some amount of frustration. Could it be that there is a problem with the socket or I didn't get all the grease off of the blade that is causing the problem?

[Purple Fencer]

I recently had to take over armory duties for my Sabre squad and needless to say, it is not complicated work. Unfortunately, one of the new electric Sabres I put together is having the problem of constantly setting off the off-target light on the box. This does not prevent scoring in any way, but would make it unusable at tournaments and is causing me some amount of frustration. Could it be that there is a problem with the socket or I didn't get all the grease off of the blade that is causing the problem?

Check that there is a direct connection between teh B and C lines on the socket...the box is not seeing a closed B/C, so it thinks there's a break in teh circuit (which there may be).

What kind is it? French 2 pin, German 2 pin, or bayonet??

[Broman86]

The body cord I am using is a German 2-pin. Could I solve this problem then by changing the socket I put onto the Sabre?

[oiuyt]

The body cord I am using is a German 2-pin. Could I solve this problem then by changing the socket I put onto the Sabre?

If you change it out for a sabre socket.

Other solutions:

* Remove the plastic bit (possibly requiring replacing with a metal bit for spacing purposes).
* Run a bit of wire between the two plug holes, making sure to make metal-metal contact with each.

-B

[SJCFU#2]

Take your ohmmeter and measure the resistance between the two socket jacks. For foil it should be infinite because the smaller plug is insulated from the metal bracket, but for saber is should be practically zero (IIRC the maximum allowed is 1 ohm). You can also use a simple weapons tester if you don't have an ohmmeter or multimeter. Plug a working bodycord into the tester, then plug the other end into the socket. If there is a foil socket in there then no lights should come on, but if it is a saber socket then one of the lights should come on (probably the red one) and stay on until you unplug the bodycord.

Assuming your saber inadvertently received a foil socket (infinite resistance between the two jacks) then correct it with one of the solutions proposed by OIUYT (any of which should work).

[Monash_Armourer]

Go down to you local hardware store/chain (Home Despot isn't it?) and pick up some 3/16" flat washers (something around that size, you crazy backwards Imperial using people...) and replace all the plastic insulating bits and give them to some real fencers. Beats a piece of wire running between the two sockets any day.

[Inquartata]

This from a fellow who prefers "bits of wire running between" one end of his entire blade and the other? Whither consistency?

[Monash_Armourer]

This from a fellow who prefers "bits of wire running between" one end of his entire blade and the other? Whither consistency?

Only a sabreur would be so ingenious as to figure out a way to get an off target light while fencing their chosen weapon. A bit of foil envy I think.

Only a sabreur would conclude that a simple elegant solution which should result in ZERO future maintenance that might cost half a cup of coffee is a bad idea and that a piece of flimsy wire they've scrounged out of the armourers bin is the preferred solution.

And why do you think I said it beats a piece of wire running between the two sockets? You don't seriously think I enjoy fixing weapons (and by weapons I mean foils, I've only had to re-wire a single epee in 3 years) when beginners break/chew on them do you?

[Inquartata]

a piece of flimsy wire they've scrounged out of the armourers bin?

*sniff* Ectually, we use paper clips. Harumph!

[KD5MDK]

I use effectively bodycord wire, on the rare time I do.

[Inquartata]

OK, seriously, I know they must exist, but when I converted my old sockets I had the very devil of a time finding washers with a large enough ID to fit over that one socket barrel and which could fill the peculiar gap left by the plastic bit once it was removed. And when I did, the barrel wasn't threaded all the way up and I needed like 4 or 5 of the things or the nut wouldn't turn far enough and the thing wouldn't tighten sufficiently. PITA. I'm glad there are now dedicated sabre sockets on the market.

[Purple Fencer]

OK, seriously, I know they must exist, but when I converted my old sockets I had the very devil of a time finding washers with a large enough ID to fit over that one socket barrel and which could fill the peculiar gap left by the plastic bit once it was removed. And when I did, the barrel wasn't threaded all the way up and I needed like 4 or 5 of the things or the nut wouldn't turn far enough and the thing wouldn't tighten sufficiently. PITA. I'm glad there are now dedicated sabre sockets on the market.

Thats why I made those purple aluminum ones I put on my German sockets. unfortunately, the ID -- while perfect for the Chinese-made sockets I had at the time -- was a liiiiiiiiiitle too small for the FWF ones I get now, so I have to shave down the bottom of the shoulder washer to the point where it doesn;t project fromthe underside of the bracket and i can get the washer tightly in place.

I think I'll have some of the shoulder washers copied in metal next time....

[Monash_Armourer]

If you don't measure the diameter of the socket with calipers first, you're guaranteed to not have a fun time trying to find what you need. If the socket doesn't alraady have star of locking washers pick up a pack of them too.

Note: all the European sockets will all be in Metric. This is because the Imperial system is vastly inferior and you should consider moving to a different country that isn't so backwards.

[Purple Fencer]

If you don't measure the diameter of the socket with calipers first, you're guaranteed to not have a fun time trying to find what you need. If the socket doesn't alraady have star of locking washers pick up a pack of them too.

Note: all the European sockets will all be in Metric. This is because the Imperial system is vastly inferior and you should consider moving to a different country that isn't so backwards.

Actually, I DID use claipers...the problem was my source piece was the Chinese one, so it was a teensy bit bigger than the german one

[Monash_Armourer]

Actually, I DID use claipers...the problem was my source piece was the Chinese one, so it was a teensy bit bigger than the german one

I was actually directing my previous post at Inq, I can’t even remember reading your post though

So you had aluminium spacers made using (I assume) Imperial measurements, which were suitable for the Chinese ones made for an American market, but then had problems when you tried to use them with the FWF sockets made with all Metric measurements? Sounds like a right pain in the ass.

On a similar note, I've defiantly noticed that the FWF sockets are a bit bigger than all the other suppliers. I discovered this funnily enough after I bought a large batch of them for the club and started assembling weapons with them. We were beset with a sudden plague of phantom off-target lights that I just couldn't explain for a while, I thought it was just the beginners destroying all my hard work. It took me a while to figure out that there wasn't actually anything wrong with the body wires per se, more that the pins on the old Uhlmann and Prieur plugs were just a bit too small to make solid contact with the insides of the sockets, when ever you got a

[Purple Fencer]

I was actually directing my previous post at Inq, I can’t even remember reading your post though

So you had aluminium spacers made using (I assume) Imperial measurements, which were suitable for the Chinese ones made for an American market, but then had problems when you tried to use them with the FWF sockets made with all Metric measurements? Sounds like a right pain in the ass.

Don't presume I used imperial measurements just because I'm in the US...I AM aware that metric is the standard for fencing...ALL of my designs are in metric (just ask Mergs)

On a similar note, I've defiantly noticed that the FWF sockets are a bit bigger than all the other suppliers. I discovered this funnily enough after I bought a large batch of them for the club and started assembling weapons with them. We were beset with a sudden plague of phantom off-target lights that I just couldn't explain for a while, I thought it was just the beginners destroying all my hard work. It took me a while to figure out that there wasn't actually anything wrong with the body wires per se, more that the pins on the old Uhlmann and Prieur plugs were just a bit too small to make solid contact with the insides of the sockets, when ever you got a

Probably what happened with the shoulder washers with me...

[Inquartata]

This is because the Imperial system is vastly inferior and you should consider moving to a different country that isn't so backwards.

You say backwards, I say too independent to sign on slavishly to whatever everyone else in the neighborhood thinks is best...

[Mergs]

Don't presume I used imperial measurements just because I'm in the US...I AM aware that metric is the standard for fencing...ALL of my designs are in metric (just ask Mergs)



Probably what happened with the shoulder washers with me...

Yes. Yes, they are. Damn him! ;-0

[Purple Fencer]

Yes. Yes, they are. Damn him! ;-0

Just keepin' you on yer toes, Colonel!!!