I'm New to Fencing, and the Forums.

[dajschnat89]

Hey Everybody,

I am really interested in picking up fencing, but I have some questions.

What is the difference between foil, sabre, and epee?

And being a little over 6'2", and 19 years old, what category do you suggest I start in? I would eventually like to get to the competition level.

And how much, on average, would a complete set of fencing gear cost.
(And by complete I mean the whole uniform, helmet, sword.. everything.)

Thanks everyone.

[boricuafencer]

i'm 19 and starting fencing too. they all differ on where u strike ur opponent and what type of weapon u use. i believe the foil and sabre are different somehow. i read that the epee is the bounciest of the three. i'm not completely sure because i don't take my first class til the beginning of september. when it comes to buying gear, beginner sets go for good deals depending on where u buy them. i ain't buying anything yet because the academy where i'm going supplies the equipment. so i ain't too sure about that either. i'm just going by what i see and read. but good luck.

[To_The_Point]

Hey Everybody,

I am really interested in picking up fencing, but I have some questions.

What is the difference between foil, sabre, and epee?

And being a little over 6'2", and 19 years old, what category do you suggest I start in? I would eventually like to get to the competition level.

And how much, on average, would a complete set of fencing gear cost.
(And by complete I mean the whole uniform, helmet, sword.. everything.)

Thanks everyone.

First off Neinteen will find this post, and type spam, foil this foil that.

While I like sabre and epee much more, putting bias asside, I would say that the best way is to try each out for an hour or so each, so you get a feel for what you like.

Beginners gear, you can get for around $100 for a starter (that is aboure bare minimum, but I would suggest you find something more midrange.

For a beginner many clubs can lend equipment until you purchase your own. No need to jump on buying everything right away.

[Neinteen]

I agree with everything in the above post.

I do promote foil foil foil.

Beginners gear is about 100-200, but you should get a full set once you know what weapon for around 200-400.

and yes, your club should provide / rent gear.

[To_The_Point]

I agree with everything in the above post.

I do promote foil foil foil.

Beginners gear is about 100-200, but you should get a full set once you know what weapon for around 200-400.

and yes, your club should provide / rent gear.

We agree on something

[Neinteen]

I agree with the fact that you're alive.

[rdg]

Hey Everybody,

I am really interested in picking up fencing, but I have some questions.

What is the difference between foil, sabre, and epee?

And being a little over 6'2", and 19 years old, what category do you suggest I start in? I would eventually like to get to the competition level.

And how much, on average, would a complete set of fencing gear cost.
(And by complete I mean the whole uniform, helmet, sword.. everything.)

Thanks everyone.

I would say you fall into the tall, young category.

Does that help?

Now for some serious advice. If club equipment isn't available, get a starter kit If you can use club stuff, then buy whichever piece of equipment that grosses you out most... Like I couldn't stand putting my hand in those nasty club gloves, and they are cheapest. Immediately afterwards was a mask... I think you get the idea.

BTW, we almost never call them swords, but I think we all secretly think of them like that. At least I do. We call them weapons, or by their name.

Have fun learning fencing.

Sam

[dajschnat89]

Thanks everybody for your input thus far, but someone has yet to answer my question:

What is the difference between sabre, epee, and foil? (And no goofy answers like "one is better than the other" or something like that)

[thekoby]

Thanks everybody for your input thus far, but someone has yet to answer my question:

What is the difference between sabre, epee, and foil? (And no goofy answers like "one is better than the other" or something like that)

This will probably be the best way to give you an answer besides actually talking face-to-face with a club or salle and seeing it in person

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fencing#Modern_weapons

[rdg]

Thanks everybody for your input thus far, but someone has yet to answer my question:

What is the difference between sabre, epee, and foil? (And no goofy answers like "one is better than the other" or something like that)

The short answer is they are three different weapons, which fight in three different ways.

Foil is light weight point weapon, with only the chest as target and only the tip "is sharp - or scores" ... and lots of rules.

Epee is the heaviest weapon, with a whole body target, only the tip is sharp and the least rules. It is also the most violent.

Saber is medium weight, goes like hell, the whole underside of the blade is sharp as is the tip, and the target is the upper body ... and has as many rules as foil.

There is also cost:

epee equipment cheapest
saber equipment most expensive.

Sam

[dajschnat89]

Thanks a lot, that should help me with my decision.

[Inquartata]

epee equipment cheapest
saber equipment most expensive.

Hey, that's just fixed costs. Add in variable costs, like wires, screws, springs, glue and the tools with which to use them all, none of which you need for sabre, and the difference diminishes somewhat. Add in the opportunity cost of the time you will spend tinkering with those damned epees to get them to work, or to work just so, and it sinks to nothing.

[thekoby]

Hey, that's just fixed costs. Add in variable costs, like wires, screws, springs, glue and the tools with which to use them all, none of which you need for sabre, and the difference diminishes somewhat. Add in the opportunity cost of the time you will spend tinkering with those damned epees to get them to work, or to work just so, and it sinks to nothing.

deffinately!!

So far the only cost I've spent on my sabre is for the sabre itself. Over the past 7 years I can't even imagine how much money I've spent repairing or upgrading my epee with new wires, screws, tips, springs, glue, and damaged barrels.

[rdg]

Hey, that's just fixed costs. Add in variable costs, like wires, screws, springs, glue and the tools with which to use them all, none of which you need for sabre, and the difference diminishes somewhat. Add in the opportunity cost of the time you will spend tinkering with those damned epees to get them to work, or to work just so, and it sinks to nothing.

Too true. You have to love tinkering to love epee or foil. We all carry a fix it bag of various sizes.

Saber breaks though. So this is an open question: Once you are reasonably experienced how often do you break a high quality saber.

The answer for epee is about every 6 months (considering fencing 5 days a week).

Sam

[thekoby]

The answer for epee is about every 6 months (considering fencing 5 days a week).

Sam

Hence why I bought a spare epee blade to practice with and got one of those electric practice tips from American Fencer Supply. Keeps my tournament blades in good condition for at least one seaon. But I still have to mess with the tips because they fail shims/weight about every 6 months (luckily I always test before going to a tournament so I don't get carded on the strip).

[Inquartata]

Saber breaks though. So this is an open question: Once you are reasonably experienced how often do you break a high quality saber.

It's variable. I have sabres with blades that are 5 or 6 years old and still going strong. If I had to guess at an average I'd say a year. That's for me. If you fence a lot more than I do ( about 6-7 hours a week of actual bouting ), hit harder than I do, or bend your blades at the tang to get a "cant" there, it will be more frequently...

Replacing a blade takes about 2 minutes, and you're back on the strip.

Occasionally, you do break a guard. It's usually at the pommel. You can drill a new hole for the tang, file the end of the knuckle bow round again and continue using them, though.

I am about to have to retire an aluminum guard which has developed cracks at the edges of the wide part. It's probably 15 years old.

[rdg]

Replacing a blade takes about 2 minutes, and you're back on the strip.

Two minutes. What do you do with the rest of your weekend?

Sam

[Inquartata]

Fence.

[Neinteen]

and get owned.

[Inquartata]

Does the phrase "13th Amendment" have any resonance for you?

OTOH, we are still allowed to own gibbons in most states...