Rope Thing

[ArteEtLabore14]

I didn't see any other threads about this, and I'm curious. For those of you who don't know/can't tell, I'm completely new to fencing (just signed up for lessons). What is the "rope" thing that fencers attach to their back that I've seen in videos? It comes in and out of a reel and is pulled out when the fencer goes forward, and goes back in when he retreats.

What's it called, what's it for, etc? Thanks!

[migopod]

They're actually wires. 3 conductors that connect the weapon to the scoring device. Some people might argue that it's two wires connecting to the weapon and one to a device called a "lame" (pronounced like "lame" as in a horse that can't walk correctly), but those people are not epeeists and should therefore be considered highly suspect.

[DHCJr]

Bodycord - U.S.
Bodywire - Great Britain
Fil de corp - French
la ficha - Spanish

[migopod]

Bodycord - U.S.
Bodywire - Great Britain
Fil de corp - French
la ficha - Spanish

I think the OP is referring to the bit between the tail of the body cord / wire / etc. and the turtle / pizza box / snailish thing / landmine. I believe in the US that would be the reel cord or cable, but it's most frequently called "the thing that thou shalt not let go of or the armourer will beat you to death (if you're lucky)".

[edew]

A Favero reel is much more forgiving for such incidents. Unless the armorer took out the decelerating device.

[migopod]

A Favero reel is much more forgiving for such incidents. Unless the armorer took out the decelerating device.

The reel might be forgiving, but most armourers still aren't.

[Perry Re Post]

Hi Arte,

Welcome to the forum and the sport! You can learn more here.

[SJCFU#2]

A Favero reel is much more forgiving for such incidents.

Just because Favero reels are designed with a braking mechanism doesn't grant people free reign to test that mechanism.

Unless the armorer took out the decelerating device.

Or the pad associated with the braking mechanism has worn down (something that will happen over time even with just routine use).

The reel might be forgiving, but most armourers still aren't.

And who gets stuck fixing the reels when something does break?

[Lance K]

Some people might argue that it's two wires connecting to the weapon and one to a device called a "lame" (pronounced like "lame" as in a horse that can't walk correctly), ...

And the very pedantic might note that lame is pronounced more like luh-MAY, and not so much like a horse that can't walk correctly.

But what does an epee fencer know about lames?

:-)

[ArteEtLabore14]

This is not something one has to invest in, it is provided by the tournament or the club, correct?

[migopod]

And the very pedantic might note that lame is pronounced more like luh-MAY, and not so much like a horse that can't walk correctly.

But what does an epee fencer know about lames?

:-)

This is a common misunderstanding about the correct pronunciation of "lame". People seem to think that making it sound french will make it less... well... lame.

[migopod]

This is not something one has to invest in, it is provided by the tournament or the club, correct?

The reel, floor cord and scoring machine are normally provided by the tournament or club. There is a piece of wiring that you are responsible for, which is the body cord. A proper body cord is a piece of three conductor wire with three prong plugs on both ends. Foilists and sabruers will try to confuse you with claims that there are such things as "2 prong" or "bayonet" connections on one end. This is of course heresy. All true body cords have three pronged plugs on both ends.

edit:

The body cord is what connects your epee to the socket on the end of the thing that thou shalt not let go of unless you wish to be beaten to death by an armourer. It's usually a few feet long and probably among the least expensive bits of fencing gear. The reels are among the most expensive bits of fencing gear, which is why armourers are happy to beat you to death for abusing them.

[DHCJr]

They're actually wires. 3 conductors that connect the weapon to the scoring device. Some people might argue that it's two wires connecting to the weapon and one to a device called a "lame" (pronounced like "lame" as in a horse that can't walk correctly), but those people are not epeeists and should therefore be considered highly suspect.

Actually lame is French for blade. The term you should use for electric vest is lamé with the accent.

But, I think you may be right about the reel wire.

[jfarmer]

This is a common misunderstanding about the correct pronunciation of "lame". People seem to think that making it sound french will make it less... well... lame.

That's because the correct word is lamé, not lame. Most english speakers/typers just ignore this and use a plain e in the spelling..

[migopod]

According to my Oxford Revisionist Dictionary the French actually called the metallic vest/jacket "lame" in order to describe foil and sabre. The French word "lame" describing the blade was a deliberate attempt to confuse Americans, since it's a homophone for "lamb" usually used to represent things that are peaceful or gentle.

The French "epee" (insert diacritical marks as you please) translates roughly to "awesome".

[DHCJr]

According to my Oxford Revisionist Dictionary the French actually called the metallic vest/jacket "lame" in order to describe foil and sabre. The French word "lame" describing the blade was a deliberate attempt to confuse Americans, since it's a homophone for "lamb" usually used to represent things that are peaceful or gentle.

The French "epee" (insert diacritical marks as you please) translates roughly to "awesome".

Oxford, isn't that from England and we know they can't spell. Look at some of the words from our own USFA rulebook that are based on an Oxford dictionary like colour, favour, defence, orthopaedic and suppliment.

Didn't you know that Epee is actually EPEE an acronym for Egotistical, Pedantic, Easy Egotist.

[migopod]

Oxford, isn't that from England and we know they can't spell. Look at some of the words from our own USFA rulebook that are based on an Oxford dictionary like colour, favour, defence, orthopaedic and suppliment.

Didn't you know that Epee is actually EPEE an acronym for Egotistical, Pedantic, Easy Egotist.

JACUSE! I have conducted a search on my pdf of the rules and as of the 2008 rules the word "flavour" does not appear. In fact I shudder to think of what context it might occur in. Probably something like "The flavour of a sabruer must be only slightly fish-like and may never approximate kidney pie."

Also a note to the OP, I'm only slightly kidding about things like the pronunciation of "lame" and the flavour of sabrurers. I am not kidding about the body cord being necessary nor the fact that you may be beaten to death by an armourer if you let go of the reel cord anywhere further than a foot from the reel.

[DHCJr]

JACUSE! I have conducted a search on my pdf of the rules and as of the 2008 rules the word "flavour" does not appear. In fact I shudder to think of what context it might occur in. Probably something like "The flavour of a sabruer must be only slightly fish-like and may never approximate kidney pie."

Also a note to the OP, I'm only slightly kidding about things like the pronunciation of "lame" and the flavour of sabrurers. I am not kidding about the body cord being necessary nor the fact that you may be beaten to death by an armourer if you let go of the reel cord anywhere further than a foot from the reel.

You should also read a little more carefully. I said favour, not flavour. There is no 'L'.

You will find it at the top of page 28 in T.88. It is also in the index as Favouring an Opponent t.88, t.120, which seems strange since t.120 only says see penalty chart.

I know you were kidding. I just got into the spirit of the moment. When I do fence I prefer Epee.

[Fencergrl]

Oxford, isn't that from England and we know they can't spell. Look at some of the words from our own USFA rulebook that are based on an Oxford dictionary like colour, favour, defence, orthopaedic and suppliment.

And the jokes continue on... yes the English know nothing about how to spell in English. Plus, more English speaking countries use the English spelling rather than the American spelling... but of course, they're all wrong as well.

[Perry Re Post]

That's irrelevant, because we don't speak English over here, we speak Amurican!