Not the usual grip question.

[AaronK]

I was wondering if anyone knows (not from anecdote but from the rulebook) if it would be legal to use a saber grip instead of a French grip on a foil/epee. If you also know the rule number please include it.
If it specifically names the French grip in the rulebook, does it also provide a definition or description of one?
Thanks,
Aaron K

[DHCJr]

M.4 is the rule that is used for most of the specifications for the handle. For you M.4.6 would be the one that would be of most interest. This talks about all handles, it does not specify a particular handle like M.4.1 and M.4.3. So if a handle is legal for Sabre, it is legal for Foil. The opposite is not always true. A Foil/Epee handle can be up to 18cm long, but a handle used for Sabre must be less than 17cm.

No handle is specifically named in the rule book, only the descriptive term, orthopedic. An interesting note: Someone in another thread mentioned what those in the United States call a French grip is called a Straight grip.

This was an interesting question.

[mfp]

Originally posted by DHCJr
A Foil/Epee handle can be up to 18cm long

Careful (or pedantic) readers of rule m.4 will note that the 18/20 cm distances specified for foil/epee grips are not the physical length of the handle. The measurements specified in the rules apply between the lines described in m.3 (2). A straight handle could conceivably be slightly longer than 20 cm and, if canted, still meet the 20cm requirement between lines B an E.

Simple trig shows that the difference wouldn't be very large -- it's just curious the way the rule was written.

[AaronK]

Thanks Donnald!
Aaron

[MikeHarm]

I tried that before to see how it would work vs the french grip on one of my foils once. I didn't like the feel of the circular parries as much as with the regular french grip, it felt like it flicked a little easier though.