Pistol grip V.s French handle?

[DHCJr]

Being able to push the pad up the handle can cause you other problems. Officially it is a wire cover, not a thumb pad. That is why Sabre was not required to have a 'Thumb Pad' until they went electric. If the whole is too big, you have access to the wire which is illegal. Officially, the pads that are cut out for the connector are illegal, because for the most part they allow access to the wire. Most Armorers will not fail it unless it is flagrant, but they could.

A warning to the wise.

[oiuyt]

Clearly you have more experience than I with dealing with armoring issues and how armoring-related rules are governed. Despite that I'll still argue the point.

With the pads that I have, the hole doesn't have to be big enough to allow access to the wires once back in place and still be able to push up onto the grip. Specifically in the common case of pads which needed the hole enlarged I do this to just such an extent that I can force the pad up. The pad stretches somewhat (aided by a small slit) to accomidate the girth of the grip but it is NOT A hole through which anything could be accessed.

Likewise, at least most of the time the slot for the socket bracket doesn't appear to allow access to the wire, at least on my weapons. I don't run the wire throug the slot, which I suppose would automatically make one run afoul of that rule. At some point the wire HAS to come up free from the pad (the pad doesn't run to and cover the posts and/or screws on the socket, nor would it be allowed to).

-B :)

[DHCJr]

Yes, you are right. I rushed in my wording. It should have been, IF you can access the wire and how you attach the wire as you describe does affect it and you have shown a cut pad would be legal.

Just for clarefication, if the pad is uncut and goes to the top of the connector. Once the body cord is in place the wire is not accessable unless you pull back the cover, which is a little difficult when you are fencing.

Thank you for explaning better.

[remise]

My son fences foil and has always used a french grip. Earlier in the year, one of the fencers loudly denounced the french grip (and all who fenced with one) at the start of the tournament. My son defeated him 5-0, which dampened his temperment a bit. I noticed earlier on someone posted about using the power of their arm with a french grip. I think my son does something like that. He compensates, but in a way that makes him very strong. I don't fence foil, but I'm told my son has a deadly disengage. One veteran foil fencer came to me after the tournament after she fenced him and told me,"Your son can really use that grip. I could feel the strength in his arm every time he hit - or took the blade. I knew I wasn't going anywhere." He has become quite good at infighting and manipulating, and he finds that the french grip allows him an excellent means to do that.

[Pltdan]

I may be new here as I am to fencing -- but i like the smooth feel of the french grip. I tried the pistol grip once but found it needed a greater amount of force from my wrist to do anything....just an opinion

Dan

[DHCJr]

Originally posted by Pltdan
I may be new here as I am to fencing -- but i like the smooth feel of the french grip. I tried the pistol grip once but found it needed a greater amount of force from my wrist to do anything....just an opinion

Dan

What type and size of pistol grip did you try? There are many different types.

[Aoife]

I've only used the pistol grip, and I quite like it. My wrist ached after my first lesson (Hell, all of me ached after my first lesson! ) but after that I've had no trouble with it.

I'd like to try the French grip too, just to see. I understand what was said earlier about the French grip being more romantic, there's not much romantic about something shaped in any way like a gun

[It]

Okay my Two cents for the day.



ITALIAN GRIP! ---------B--

[Aoife]

Okay, newbie time, what's an Italian grip? Could you possibly post a photo? Or a link to one?

[DHCJr]

Originally posted by Aoife
Okay, newbie time, what's an Italian grip? Could you possibly post a photo? Or a link to one?

This is from American Fencers Supply web site.

http://www.amfence.com/html/grip_pics.html

[Aoife]

Thank you

(makes much more sense now.... although now I'm trying to figure out which pistol grip mine is )

[a517dogg]

isn't italian grip illegal for USFA or FIE?

If i had the skill to use a french grip i would use it. I used a french grip until acouple years ago, when i basically switched because of peer pressure - all of my teammates had already switched. i wish i hadn't switched. french grip is more versatile. i still entertain fantasies of switching back, but i dont think i have enough hand or arm strength to be able to manipulate it with the same skill that i can a pistol grip. (visconti)

[Purple Fencer]

Originally posted by a517dogg
isn't italian grip illegal for USFA or FIE?

Nope...it just doesn't lend itself to the modern game. I see one guy in the SoCal area who fences with one in competition...but he uses a Belgian, too.

[attila]

You always hear of guys who started with french and will now fence only with an ortho until somebody pulls it off their cold dead hand. You NEVER hear of somebody who started with an ortho and switched to a French who say the same thing......

[a517dogg]

thats because its much harder to go from ortho to french grip. because ortho is easy, while french grip requires skill and much more strength than a pistol.

[veeco]

Originally posted by attila
You always hear of guys who started with french and will now fence only with an ortho until somebody pulls it off their cold dead hand. You NEVER hear of somebody who started with an ortho and switched to a French who say the same thing......

Actually, that's exactly what I did ;-).

I fenced with a belgian for all of the 3 or 4 first years that I was fencing. Then one summer, I went to the fencing store, bought 2 blades, 2 french handles (at that point I had never seen one, and I did not even know if they came in lateralized), and 2 pommels.

I built 2 weapons for myself, and fenced the whole summer with a french. After that, I was hooked and could not change it.

Another guy in my division fenced for more than 10 years with a pistol, and changed coach. His coach told him to fence with French, and now he swears by it.

It's not that hard to change, and it is not that big of a change, actually. If you are destined to use a French grip, that is ;-)

[veeco]

Originally posted by a517dogg
isn't italian grip illegal for USFA or FIE?

If i had the skill to use a french grip i would use it. I used a french grip until acouple years ago, when i basically switched because of peer pressure - all of my teammates had already switched. i wish i hadn't switched. french grip is more versatile. i still entertain fantasies of switching back, but i dont think i have enough hand or arm strength to be able to manipulate it with the same skill that i can a pistol grip. (visconti)

I think that you can. Hand and arm strength don't matter that much, really. Once you get used to it, it doesn't require that much more strength than a pistol, especially if the weapon is properly balanced (use a big and heavy pommel, and add fishing weights to it if necessary).

The thing is, as I said earlier, you cannot take half measures. Either you want to switch, and you train, compete and do everything with a French, either you don't and then it's better to forget about it altogether.

That's why it's good to choose a relatively long period of time when there are no competitions, but you can still practice to make the switch. Then there is no risk of screwing up in an important tournament because you did not get any chance to adapt to the new grip. Make sure you take lessons at the same time too, and that your coach knows what he's doing when it comes to teaching people who fence with a French (unfortunately, they are few in the US).

[Purple Fencer]

Ahhh...but you're an epeeist, where the French DOES have a place. Not so in foil.

You ever gonna send me that gifer certificate so I can get you your body cords?

[veeco]

Originally posted by Purple Fencer
Ahhh...but you're an epeeist, where the French DOES have a place. Not so in foil.

You ever gonna send me that gifer certificate so I can get you your body cords?

I think 'dog is an epee fencer too, so that's why I said that. I would not try a french handle in foil, you're right.

I will send it!! I'm just being a lazy ***

[a517dogg]

ya i fence epee
think i could learn french in a summer?
my coach knows his doo-doo.