Light Weight French Grip Epee

[Thierry]

Are there any alternatives to the Carbon Fiber grip? Like a lightweight pommel etc.

[SJCFU#2]

Regarding a light weight pommel, you might want to read at this thread. starting at about post #5.

Then maybe read this thread for more discussion of alternative to the LP carbon-fiber grip (which it appears that you were already aware of before you even asked the question).

[Thierry]

But so far all I hear is talk, there's no place I can actually purchase these things.

[piste off]

If you want a lightweight pommel... use a saber one. It will front-load the weapon like the LP. At a minimum, you'll get the feel of a weapon with a light pommel; and may realize that you don't like it.

R-

[SJCFU#2]

But so far all I hear is talk, there's no place I can actually purchase these things.

Simple solution - if no one sells what you want then make your own (we're not exactly talking rocket science here - and besides, necessity is the mother of invention)

[rg500g]

OK, want a super lightweight pommel cheap? Here's how you make one:

1. go to hardware store and find some long nylon spacers, I find a 2 inch spacer half inch OD with a quarter inch ID in the small parts drawers a lot of hardware stores have.
2. get a hex outside pommel nut
3. get a drill bit that's a bit smaller than the sizing of the pommel nut
4. get some clear tubing that has a half inch ID
5. get some clear tubing that has an ID the same as the OD of the smaller clear tubing you just bought
6. I strongly recommend getting a handle with a metal core also

drill out the hole in the spacer to the length of the pommel nut plus 5mm or so.

heat the pommel nut over the stove until it's real hot, but not red hot

put the pommel nut on a ceramic saucer, holding it with a pair of hemostats, and carefully push the spacer (the hole you drilled of course facing down) onto the pommel nut as squarely as possible. if the nut is hot enough it will melt itself into the spacer. as soon as the spacer totally covers the nut toss the thing in a glass of cold water.

find a washer that's no larger in diameter than the end of the grip, and put it down the tang, followed by the usual pistol grip lock washer. screw the spacer with the embedded pommel nut down and using some slip joint pliers tighten it down.

cut the smaller clear tubing to the length of the spacer and slide it down the spacer. You will likely need to heat the tubing in some hot water, facucet hot, not boiling.

cut the larger tubing to same length and shave or sand the ends of the tubing to taper, rather than leaving it square cut. Slide it over the smaller tubing. Will need to warm this tubing up also.

wrap the lot up using vinyl tape. start at the grip and wrap it tight to the end and back to the grip again.

you're good to go. If you need to loosen or tighten the assembly cut the vinyl tape at the juncture of the outer tubing and grip, pull off the outer tubing, pull off the inner tubing, and you can break out the slip joints and deal with the nut.

This assembly has a ridge at the end of the grip for your fingers, is stiff enough for tip accuracy, and IMHO makes for a weapon that's faster in point placement than a heavier counterpart. I have the LP racket handles as well, and I prefer this rube goldberg setup to the rackets, which are too big for what I like to do.

[Gav]

I am pretty sure you can still buy the wooden ones that are wrapped in leather.

Having a lightweight pommel is (imo) over rated.

[TBean]

Use a kids/mini pommel for a french grip - Absolute makes one and I am sure others do too. My epees are built with weight in mind and that is what I often use.

[Rock]

I am pretty sure you can still buy the wooden ones that are wrapped in leather.

Having a lightweight pommel is (imo) over rated.

1. Ooh, ooh! Where??!!

2. I agree. Balance and responsiveness are more important.

[Thierry]

1. Ooh, ooh! Where??!!

2. I agree. Balance and responsiveness are more important.

If you are pommelling, the whole swords weight is still in your
hand anyway, so balance wouldn't help that much.

[Rock]

My bad. Instead of "balance", I should have referred to the location of the center of gravity of the epee.