epee shim gauge

[engardemisami]

What is the thickness of the epee shim gauge to test the contact spring when the point is depressed? I really don't want to buy the $14 or $16 gauge. Has anyone found an alternate device similar to spark plug gauges available for cheaper?

[sallearmourer]

0.50 is the thickness of the shim. An yes you can used automotive gap gauge. 0.35 & 0.15 will give you what you need,

Tim

[DHCJr]

Whenever I give a clinic, I always tell them the worse thing an epeeist to get is a set of fencing gauges. The best is a set of automotive gauges. When I'm checking a weapon I use a 0.48, 0.45 or 0.40 gauge depending on how sure I am of the competition's gauges. In fact I will make sure that the weapon will pass at (let us say) 0.45 but fails at 0.35. That way when they go on the strip, they are sure that they will pass on the strip and also the tip is not bottoming out and therefore intermittent. I have used a micrometer at many competitions and have found thin gauges, but they are the legal gauges.

So unless you are running a competition, buy a set of automotive gauges. Plan for thin gauges and use one less than 0.5. Even using a 0.4, what are you giving up, less than 0.004".

Get the automotive gauges and if you want to, file out a groove to fit better under the tip.

[engardemisami]

Thank you very much for the answers an suggestions. I spend care and time the night before a meet to check everything. I am paranoid about getting my weapons to pass on the big day. Last thing I want is a failure and then to be taking out points and springs minutes before the start of a bout. It is one anxiety I can do without.

[lochinvar]

While we're on the subject of epee shims...

I'm currently using some cheap Russian knock-offs of German tips, and I have been told at at least three tournaments that they are not legal when I know for a fact that they are legal.

The difficulty lies in that the diameter of the plunger is thicker than your normal German tip, and the notch in the shim won't fit around it.

However, there is nothing in the specs that speaks to the diameter of the plunger section of the tip, only the minimum and maximum travel. Therefore, if the thickness of the shim fits between the tip and the barrel all the way around, it's legal even if the damned thing won't fit in the notch!

How should I handle this in future? I'm tired of arguing with refs on the piste about it. Is there a reccommended procedure I should follow that won't put people's noses too far out of joint?

I'm open for suggestions...

[DHCJr]

The one thing you didn't say, "Was there an Armorer?". If there is ask for them. Any halfway decent Armorer would know that, which is one reason for the Armorer's Guild.

The problem is most gauges (Prieur & Russian the only exceptions I know) use just a shim gauge. The problem is they are less than 0.02". They can bend vary easily, so they make the groove as small as possible. Ask them to use the side of the gauge and see if it fits. Use this at your own risk, considering every referee knows the rulebook by heart, but ask him or her to look at rule M19-1. There is no minimum or maximum of the shaft, as long as it is no bigger than the collar of 7.7. The shaft of the standard French/German/British is 5.0mm or a lot to play with. You will find the wall of the barrel is thicker than the usual 8mm outside hex (6mm thread) pommel. That I find interesting.

This brings up another point, sometimes you can not find metric automotive so the best to use is 0.019”(~0.48mm), which gives you a good assurance that you will pass. I would use 0.015”(~0.38mm) for the low end.

[sallearmourer]

Since I issued out the offical shims for the USFA if you set you contact springs at 0.47 you well pass most of the shims use at the Nacs. And if your set your epee spring at 756 grams you will pass all the weights used at the Nacs.

Tim