Epee weapon

[shadowed]

Currently i own two epees both having miraging blades with Russian grips. I have noticed however that throughout the year i have been fencing my arm, shoulder and hand cramps up very rapidly throughout the duration of just a single 5 touch bout and even just training. i discussed it with my trainer and he said that it was my grip as i had presumed. my point is that i need help finding a blade that is more light weighted than a miraging but shares some of the durable characteristics a miraging blade posseses. Secondly i would like a differen't pistol grip but i am not sure which one. I have been pondering over a german or an italian but i have no real knowledge of weapons so therefore i really have no direction.
any suggestions????

~Chris

[neevel]

The blade you want is the Leon Paul FIE epee blade-- much lighter than any other epee blade out there. As for grip, that's really something you have to try yourself. First off, make sure you're not maintaining a 'death-clench' on your weapon. If you're doing that, then you'll have cramping and fatigue no matter what kind of grip you use. The russian grip is a biggish one- a common mistake among newer fencers is to select a grip that is really too large. For most people, a pistol grip that will work well should sit forward in the hand and be comfortably and gently enclosed by the fingers.

-Dave

[shadowed]

Dave,
i can asure you it is not because i clench the grip to tightly because i have been taught from day one to stay very loose on the weapon. I am almost certain that it is the Russian grip that is the cause of the cramping of my arm,hand and shoulder. I know that i made a big mistake in taking that kind of grip from the start.
I will take the blade you suggested into consideration, however isn't the leon paul epees on the expensive side???

[damianip]

An important thing to consider with the Russian grip is that it is too long for almost all fencers. You would achieve a much better balance and relieve some stress on your hand and arm by cutting the grip back a bit (1/4 to 3/4 of an inch).

This should help, unless you have huge hands. If that's the case, then don't do it.

The LP blade is quite light. I use them, but be aware that they are a bit tip heavy in balance.

They are very durable and this more than makes up for the price difference.

Also, being taught to relax and relaxing are two very different things. How long have you been using this grip, and what grip did you use before?

Paolo

[shadowed]

I will consider the Leon paul since alerady 2 people have suggested their blades. Though would i be better off if i just bought the blade from leon paul opposed the the entire weapon, because in the minds of one of my friends he says that when one buys a full weapon through some companies one often gets a pretty bad weapon, so it is better to buy all the stuff you want in pieces and piece it togethre yourself. Is this true?
To answer your question i have only been fencing a year and i have two weapons (both russian) so i have never had any other kinda of grip. i most definitely do not have large hands, and probably because Russians are used mainly by people who have large hands, that is probably the main reason for my cramping up. (Because the russian grip is big my hand tenses up and cleches it with more of a grip). I have however tried other grips mainly because other people answered my laments about how bad my grip was and so they allowed me to try out their grips for a couple of bouts or so.
I used my friends weapon at the last competition and i really loved it... i mean no cramping what so ever. Now he says that it is a German but i dont think it is, becuase i have seen germans before, though it might be modified i think it probably is an italian visconti.
please get back to me as soon as possible. Thanks for what help you have provided already.

[DHCJr]

Shadowed,

Your first post confused me. You talked about switching to a German or Italian. I don’t think you know what an Italian is. You might look at a vendors website to see what they are.

When you are talking about Visconti, just use the single word, do not add Italian as it would only confuse those you are trying to speak to.

The biggest difference between the Visconti and the German is the back prong. On the German it is broad and flat when looking from the side, while the Visconti is thin and straight when viewed from the same angle.

[shadowed]

Thanks Donald Hollis Clinton for the correction, i was unaware of the difference and also that the Visconti was an Italian. Now i know that it is the visconti that i want because that is the one, by what you described it , that i favor over the two (German or Visconti). Donald, can you suggest a blade to me, that is not as heavy as a miraging but not obsessively light either? I appreciate any suggestions you can make, for i mean to construct an epee very soon or should i say as soon as possible, because my hand is bothering me greatly from the Russian.
Thanks again.
~Chris

[Purple Fencer]

Shadowed;

You don't have to be so formal here...in theory, we're all friends.

And if you ever meet Donald, you'll understand just how formal he ain't!

[DHCJr]

I am not sure of the brand, but it comes from Ukraine. If someone knows the name, please post it. What they did was take the Leon Paul idea of the folded blades and make it work. These have thicker walls. The Leon Paul in a short time no longer pass the flexibility test.

I formal with those I do not know. I not so formal with those I know, even those I wish I didn't know. (Sam was that subtle enough (2x4) - Just kidding, I think)

[shadowed]

ok

[earlie]

Visconti .... phauck yeah. Oh phauck yeah. Is a rolling good grip and is available on a range of sizes. Oh yeah, baaaaby. Glomp-glomp