8th or 2nd parry

[Carlos37]

What parry is better?

[oiuyt]

It depends.

-B

[Redblade]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

It depends.

I concur.

[Adler]

As above however the I would use Seconde over Octave under the following circumstances:

1) If i want to step in with the parry and riposte at close distance.

2) My opponent has attacked with either Octave opposition or Quarte Flanconade (both right handed).

3) If I'm fencing Sabre.

[randomsabreur]

Octave is generally better at pointy weapons - your point is closer to a target when you have finished the parry...

Seconde is often stronger though (maybe I'm more used to it as a sabreur?)

[DangerMouse]

Neither, 7 is the best parry for everything.

[parrythis]

In my opinion, Seconde is a stronger, more assertive parry, but Octave allows you to riposte more quickly. Octave also allows you to follow your opponent's blade and retake control of the action if they disengage quickly from your parry.

That's just my experience based on observations. Others may disagree.

[epeelion]

Eight for engagements, binds/oppositions, preparations, etc. Possibly also for quick beats. Second for parries and strong beats. That's what I've been taught, at least, eight is quicker but much weaker, so it's better for feel and oppositions, while second is a much stronger take, for parries or strong transfers and the like.

[seven6ty]

In any particular weapon?

[CvilleFencer]

As noted it depends, and then depends more on the weapon. All the responses before are sound, except for Dangermouse... Alder and Parrythis are good answers for foil, Epeelion is more right for epee (unless you are planning a fast riposte with opposition to the thigh/leg for example) and RS is right in that 2 is a more common parry in saber. If you want more details, you probably want to give some situations that are weapon specific.

[bigdawg2121]

The distance at which you're executing the action also matters. At least personally, I find that if I'm at very close distance then 2 is easier to riposte from as the hand is already in a supinated position that's easier to make prime or other angulated ripostes...I'm also left handed and generally fencing right handed fencers though.

[remistress]

I've always been taught that the supinated parries (4,6,8,7) are best for point control attacks and the pronated parries (2,3,5) are best for strength. I'm thinking this is why you see pronated parries more often in saber (don't have to hit with point, and strong parries are important) and supinated in foil and epee. I've also heard that if one trains point control long enough from an early age, that switching to pronated parries can circumvent the point control reprecussions. So I guess it really does depend.

[bigdawg2121]

*Note: it's entirely possible/probable that I transposed the correct usage of supinated and pronated...finals are over, I'm taking a break from any type of thought or consideration currently.

[Chuck F.]

Split the difference. Use parry quinte.

[tchwojko]

None of the above...counter-attack.

[pinkelephant]

Seconde hurts tennis elbow less. It's also very convenient for stepping in and jabbing the thigh.

[Adler]

Just to confuse matters a little how about parrying octave and riposte in seconde or parry seconde and riposte in octave?

[RITFencing]

Originally Posted by Chuck F.

Split the difference. Use parry quinte.

Ha!

One other thing that I feel should be noted is choice of targets on the riposte. I have had better luck (in epee, of course) with ripostes to the flank and chest with 8 and to the thigh, knee and foot with 2.

YMMV, of course.

[commiemermaid]

An OP with less
than seventeen syllables
best elaborates.

[magic_moose]

Originally Posted by Adler

Just to confuse matters a little how about parrying octave and riposte in seconde or parry seconde and riposte in octave?

I can't seem to figure out how you would do the former, but the latter is certainly very effective.
I've used it a lot.