Who's Who? & How's it Hangin'?

[Slavheart]

Just a couple of quick questions:

1. Is there a website that lists the current champeens and other personalities of note in the fencing world?

2. How do you store your fencing weapons at home when you're not using them? I'm trying to get some ideas...

Thanks!

[D'Artagnan1673]

As for storing weapons, most all fencing vendors sell equipment bags. I go a step furthur and "sheathe" my weapons in pipe to reduce the chance of rust. My mask is mounted on the headboard of my bed and my uniform in the closet. I imagine that whenver I get married the mask thing isn't going to happen anymore.

[lochinvar]

Originally posted by Slavheart

1. Is there a website that lists the current champeens and other personalities of note in the fencing world?

The USFA site (www.usfencing.org) has the currrent rankings--by weapon and age bracket--for the US. The ones at the top are the closest thing to a "champeen" we have.

The FIE site (www.fie.ch) has the current world rankings.

[135711]

storing weapons, storing weapons okay let's see, there are 2 basic ways of storing weapons:
1. neatly
2. not neatly

the neatly way is to remove each foil/saber/epee individually from the weapons bag and place them carefully in an upright position, after examining them for damage against a wall, tip up, with a nice peice of plastic over each one.

the other way is to come home from fencing and throw the bag on the floor without disturbing anything, because you:
a. may take something out that you'll need for the following night.
b. will need everything in the bag for the following night.
c. the "spirit" of the bag should not be disturbed

[lochinvar]

Originally posted by 135711
<snip>

the other way is to come home from fencing and throw the bag on the floor without disturbing anything, because you:
a. may take something out that you'll need for the following night.
b. will need everything in the bag for the following night.
c. the "spirit" of the bag should not be disturbed

d. you're exhausted after working all day and fencing all night, and you just don't feel like dealing with it right now.

e. the kids are fighting, the pot on the stove is boiling over, the dog just ate your carefully-preserved 8-track tape of The Mommas and the Poppas Greatest Hits, and the wife is sitting in the corner crying because her best friend has just been diagnosed with some incurable disease--and your fencing gear suddenly has been relegated to the LAST thing on your mind.

[achilleus]

Originally posted by Slavheart
Just a couple of quick questions:

1. Is there a website that lists the current champeens and other personalities of note in the fencing world?

www.fie.ch
It's in French, but on the site you can find a list of all the world and olympic champions, including team.

For the US, you can find recent national champions by checking out
www.usfencing.org

Lastly for a historical perspective of US national champions, you can look at:
www.westsidefencing.com

There you can find a list of all the US champs.

Although none of the above websites contain info on their personalities.

Originally posted by Slavheart
2. How do you store your fencing weapons at home when you're not using them? I'm trying to get some ideas...

Thanks!

In my fencing bag, separated from my wet clothes.

I don't recommend PVC piping. Not only does it make your bag heavier, which sucks when your traveling, but it can also trap in moisture, leading to more rust.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Originally posted by achilleus


I don't recommend PVC piping. Not only does it make your bag heavier, which sucks when your traveling, but it can also trap in moisture, leading to more rust.

Oh...

[Zelda]

In a bag at the bottom of my bed. In London in a bag under my bed with my mask on a coat hook behind the door.....clothing either in a cloth bag in hte fencing bag or if my mother has decided the smell is too bad nicely washed in my wardrobe.

[venus_demilo]

If pvc piping can bring on rust, what is good for covering blades?

[achilleus]

Originally posted by venus_demilo
If pvc piping can bring on rust, what is good for covering blades?

An equipment bag?

I've haven't used a covering for my weapons for 10 years (which is when I threw out my PVC), and I've had no problems with rust.

[SäbelFechter]

Don't know about the effectiveness of pvc piping in preventing rust - never had a problem with that (just be sure and keep damp clothing away from your blades). I mainly use piping to protect the tips on my epees and ensure that my blades don't get bent accidentally while in my bag. Normally, my gear isn't stored at home. I keep it at the club. If it is at home, it's in an equipment bag with my jacket & pants hanging in a closet (if damp).

[S. Fisher]

I keep all my weapons in my closet up against the wall. I use the pvc piping on my electric when I go to competitions. I use metal glow or flitz to keep all of my blades from rusting.
I hang my masks and jackets up after use to dry. Never leave a wet jacket in your bag with your weapons for a period of time. That will develop some nasty rust on your blades and jacket.

As for who's who in the modern fencing world, I could care less.

[135711]

Originally posted by Zelda
In a bag at the bottom of my bed. In London in a bag under my bed with my mask on a coat hook behind the door.....clothing either in a cloth bag in hte fencing bag or if my mother has decided the smell is too bad nicely washed in my wardrobe.

in a bag at the bottom of my bed, with a mom down the hall, and a cat in the sink watching it......

[there's a penguin on my computer]

[civiltech]

Is there an industry product for cleaning rust in tough areas?

Blades seem striaght forward. But masks can be a real pain.

Though I wipe down my mask after every use, and keep it out to ensure proper air circulation (nice and dry!) I still seem to get rust around some of the rivets, and where the screen meets the guard around the throat. (I'm not familiar with all the terminology)

Upon my next purchase, are there more user friendly masks? Particular company? etc.?

curious.

[Mo]

Actually there is a mask that is more user friendly.
Leon Paul has made a mask where the bib slides off. You can order more than one bib with it and wash it when necessary.
No one seems to have them though.. the one I saw came from somewhere in Europe.
Leon Paul was talking about an increase in online orders after the James Bond movie so check it out.

[Morra[PrFC]]

Actually, whtouche has one. The concept is great, but they don't seem much more user-friendly to me. He's going to kill me for saying this, but once he took the bib off, it took him days to get it back on again. However, he seems to love it.

[whtouche]

Indeed, I own a leon paul X-change mask. You can go to their website and look at them.
I love it. I ordered with it an extra bib which hasn't become necessary yet, but when it is it will be much less of a hassle than the bib on a regular mask wearing out.
To remove the bib there are just 2 velcro straps to un-velcro, then the bib slides out of a slot on the mask.
True that after having taken it out the first time it took me a few days to get it back in. But that's only because Im an idiot, and was trying to slide the wrong part of the bib into the slot. Once I realized my mistake it was a matter of seconds.
Aside from the obvious advantages of being able to swap out bibs easily, it's also the most comfortable mask I've ever worn, tho it did take a little bit to get used to, everything on the inside is velcro'd in and very easily adjustable.
Anyways, I'm rambling. The only downside of this mask is how long it took to get it. After having ordered it, I was told it would take 9 to 11 business days to receive. But, since each one is made per order, and the guy who makes them was on vacation, it took me over a month I believe.
Kinda frustrating, but I've found leon paul to be very courteous people to deal with, all my emails answered within the day or the next day.
Price I believe was 93 pounds, I dont know exactly how much that is in U.S. dollars..
Their website where you can find out all this information is:
http://www.leonpaul.com/

[DHCJr]

I was at the World Championship two years ago and they only had the Foil/Epee Mask ready, but I will tell you I was looking forward to the Sabre version with the removable bib. Has anyone tried to repair the bib on a Sabre mask and enjoyed the experience. I wish every member of the U.S. Team had one, then I could tell them to buy a new bib. I hate to sew.

[sallearmourer]

At the commonwealth game in Aust. Several of the sabre mask fail due to corrison of the aluminum slide were the bid goes in.

I got this from Ted Li. Once aluminum start to corred it hard to clean they actully had to pry the slide area itself apart and use a wire brush to get conductive restore to the rest of the mask


TIm