Soft Saber? Sabersoft?

A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
RSE

Could this have been a Wacky Wacker, sold about 10 years ago by Colonial?

Chris

"J. Christoph Amberger" <zoergiebel@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030204155739.23144.00000205@mb-bd.aol.com...
> Could this have been a Wacky Wacker, sold about 10 years ago by
Colonial?

Still available, I think, from Triplette and probably other dealers.

--

Dirk Goldgar

(to reply via e-mail, remove NOSPAM from address)

You're right, it was Triplette.

(The one I still have bears the teethmarks of at last one of my children and
just last weekend was again confiscated after my second son went on a "wapping"
spree with it... wearing an aluminum turkey pan as a breastplate.)

Chris

I did a search for Wacky Wacker, came up empty. Triplette does not list
them or anything like them on their site. I'll call.
Any other thoughts?
RSE

R.S.E. wrote:
> A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
> saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
> programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
> What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
> RSE
>

I bought a couple of foam sabres from Peter Ho of the Variety
Village Toronto fencing club. I don't know if he has more, or if
he ever did or will mail them, he and I were at the same
tournament. You can probably find contact information at
http://www.tfc.on.ca/.

And yes, my son ate one... but we had a lot of fun until he did. :-)

Maybe some day I'll get motivated to buy some foam and cut out
another one.

R.S.E. wrote:
> A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
> saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
> programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
> What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
> RSE
>

I vaguely recollect Uhlmann or maybe Allstar stocking them, but I could be
confused.

j

R.S.E. wrote:

> I did a search for Wacky Wacker, came up empty. Triplette does not list
> them or anything like them on their site. I'll call.
> Any other thoughts?
> RSE
>
> R.S.E. wrote:
> > A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
> > saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
> > programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
> > What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
> > RSE
> >

Saw one variation of these at American Fencers a month ago and
bought a set at last year's USFA summer nationals - from I believe
Blue Gauntlet (really not sure if they were the supplier).

J.

R.S.E. wrote:
> A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
> saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
> programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
> What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
> RSE
>

"R.S.E." <rse2@qwest.net> wrote:
> R.S.E. wrote:
> > A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
> > saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
> > programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
> > What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
> > RSE
> I did a search for Wacky Wacker, came up empty. Triplette does not list
> them or anything like them on their site. I'll call.
> Any other thoughts?
> RSE

I believe the official name on them is Wacky Waster, not Wacker. I
picked up a couple at the Triplette both at the JOs in Columbus last
year, and I believe that was the name they were going by. My coach
also picked up a bunch extra and was selling them at our club, and I
believe she still has several for sale. You can drop her an email and
check: sarakass@juno.com Just let her know I sent you.

Chris "ObeeKris" Lisy

battling in the UK sell a range of these over the net, you could try them.

http://www.battling.com/


"Jonathan Jefferies" <jonathanjefferies@alamedanet.net> wrote in message
news:3E406B03.7040203@alamedanet.net...
> Saw one variation of these at American Fencers a month ago and
> bought a set at last year's USFA summer nationals - from I believe
> Blue Gauntlet (really not sure if they were the supplier).
>
> J.
>
> R.S.E. wrote:
> > A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
> > saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
> > programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
> > What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
> > RSE
> >
>

>LP and
>Allstar also sell plastic foils that have a buzzer on the tip.

you might try zivkovic (though i dont know if i spelled that correctly) thats
where i got one for my sister.

"R.S.E." <rse2@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:3E405AC3.4030206@qwest.net...
> I did a search for Wacky Wacker, came up empty. Triplette does not
list
> them or anything like them on their site. I'll call.
> Any other thoughts?


I'm almost certain I saw them, though, in the printed catalog
Triplette sent me with my last order.

--

Dirk Goldgar

(to reply via e-mail, remove NOSPAM from address)

Found them! Thanks for all the clues. Once I searched for "foam saber"
I got more hits. Santelli has them as do American Fencer's Supply and
others.
Now that I have seen them I'm wondering if they will really help for
training kids. Are they stiff enough to parry and do other blade work
or are they just for fun?
Do the kids need masks with these?
Has anyone used the plastic semi electric foils I've seen on other sites?
I can't get a response from Zitkovic.
RSE

R.S.E. wrote:
> A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
> saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
> programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
> What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
> RSE
>

"R.S.E." <rse2@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:3E41E0A8.6000504@qwest.net...
> Found them! Thanks for all the clues. Once I searched for "foam
saber"
> I got more hits. Santelli has them as do American Fencer's Supply
and
> others.
> Now that I have seen them I'm wondering if they will really help for
> training kids. Are they stiff enough to parry and do other blade
work
> or are they just for fun?

You really can't parry very effectively with them, not after they've
been used for a while, as they soften up (at least, mine did).
They're good for training distance control, though.

> Do the kids need masks with these?

No, not really.

> Has anyone used the plastic semi electric foils I've seen on other
sites?

I haven't.

--

Dirk Goldgar

(to reply via e-mail, remove NOSPAM from address)

On Tue, 04 Feb 2003 13:35:07 -0700, "R.S.E." <rse2@qwest.net> wrote:

>A few years ago I saw a product that was a foam or similar material
>saber. The intent was to market these to schools and recreation
>programs as a way to cheaply and safely introduce children to fencing.
>What happened to them? So far I can't find them on the net anymore.
>RSE

After reading through the other postings on this, I have a suggestion
that sounds like it may be just as good as shop-bought ready made.
Foam pipe insulation works pretty well. My kids had a school project
that involved getting the whole class "fencing", so we bought a bundle
of 6-foot lengths of pipe insulation - fattest we could find, to
provide at least a semblance of stiffness - cut them into 3-foot
lengths and cut out some cardboard guards. Simple cardboard discs,
rather than sabre guards, but sabre could be fun to try too... A
couple of turns of hockey tape around grip, tip and somewhere between
to prevent the slot in the tubes from opening, and you're all done.
They got by with no protective equipment, no lost eyes and, I believe,
had a lot of fun doing it. Cost for around 30 kids - less than $30.

Robert Smith

"R.S.E." <rse2@qwest.net> wrote in message news:<3E41E0A8.6000504@qwest.net>...
<snip>
> Has anyone used the plastic semi electric foils I've seen on other sites?
> I can't get a response from Zitkovic.
> RSE
>

My coach uses them for beginners (adults and kids). Gives them a
chance to play distance games without full gear and without the risk
of impaling someone. They're sort of dorky but they're better than
playing with just gloves, which encourage too much wind-up.

In article <A9m0a.1492$Yl4.462943321@news.netcarrier.net>, Dirk Goldgar
<dgoldgar@NOalumni.SPAMprinceton.edu> writes
>"R.S.E." <rse2@qwest.net> wrote in message
>news:3E41E0A8.6000504@qwest.net...
>> Found them! Thanks for all the clues. Once I searched for "foam
>saber"
>> I got more hits. Santelli has them as do American Fencer's Supply
>and
>> others.
>> Now that I have seen them I'm wondering if they will really help for
>> training kids. Are they stiff enough to parry and do other blade
>work
>> or are they just for fun?

The kids always find them great fun. Produce a few and you won't get
any regular training done.

>
>You really can't parry very effectively with them, not after they've
>been used for a while, as they soften up (at least, mine did).
>They're good for training distance control, though.
>
>> Do the kids need masks with these?
>
>No, not really.

There is a school of thought that eye protection should be worn. I
don't think it's a serious issue for fun encounters, but if you were
using them for more formal practice - especially cuts to head - it could
be. They're quite heavy-weight foam.

[snip rest]
--
Tim S.

I just got a Triplette catalog in the mail with an underarm protector I
ordered. The last page has "Wacky Wackers" They are 26 inches long and
$10.95/ea. or $15.95/pr.

Jon