Next question about grips

[npkeith]

Ok, So I've chosen the grip I want. When it comes, I cut down the tang of my weapon, rethread and mount it. I fence with it, and hate it. What now? Obviously I can't go back to a french as the tang is now too short. What about other ortho grips? Are they similar enough in lengths that I can fudge it? Or am I hosed and have to buy a whole new weapon?
For instance - I go with a russian, hate it, and then decide to try a hungarian after all. From the pictures, it looks like I can get away with that, and might even have to cut more, but I doubt I could go the other way.

Any Comments?

[Craig]

In general, you should be able to switch between the various pistol grips without having to make modifications to the blade/tang. The mod that I've had to make switching grips was grinding down some of the tang so that the grip would fit over the blade, but that was just a touch here and there.

YMMV

Craig

[neevel]

Some pistol grips require a longer tang than others. If you cut the tang to be "just right" for a smaller visconti grip for example, it may end up being too short for a belgian or russian grip. The best solution to this problem if you're not sure what grip you'll settle on is to get an outside hex nut-- since the tang can thread completely through the nut, it doesn't matter if it's cut longer than the grip is designed for. Thus, you can keep the tang cut to accept longer pistol grips, but still be able to change to a shorter one (unless it's so short that the tang projects out the back of the grip).

-Dave

[npkeith]

Thanks Neevel, the outside hex thing makes sense. Ideally I'd like to play with foils/epees that have the various grips and see how they feel, but in the world of mail order....

[Nusy]

Once I have seen a Belgian grip with a "curved" ending... I think you should try it. I don't know, where could you find this type, I have only seen it in my club in Hungary, but you may contact Zsolt Szerencsi, who's our arms expert, and he travels with the Hungarian team. I don't know any of his contacting ways... Sorry.
Nusy

[CarlKnoch]

You might talk to some of the folks at your l;ocal club about what they use, and convince them to let you try one of thiers out in practice. Most folks I know would let anyone fence with thier weapons (short of their favorite usually) and that can get you some idea as to the different grips and how they feel before buying any more.

[theperfect01]

Maybe the it's not the style/brand of the grip so much as the grip-size. Ideally, for a pistol grip, your thumb (with your glove on) should almost touch the bell guard of the foil/epee. Most people fence with grips too big for their hands.

[npkeith]

My initial post was purely hypothetical.

Here's the deal. I'm still fencing with french grips on my (dry) foil and (electric) epee. I've jammed my index finger into the inside of my bell a few times with both weapons (I seem to be taking a lot of hits the guard) and its starting to get sore.
(I talked to the hand specialist where I work and he told me to "lay off it for a while - but it can take months to get better" ...Sure, quit fencing for a few months. Like thats gonna happen)

I borrowed a fellow club-member's russian grip epee on Monday and realised that it will stop the jamming, and is really comfortable. (after winning 3 of 5 bouts) That is probably what I'll get. I'm currently in negotiations with the minister of finance to arrange for the purchase of new grips.

(BTW TheFencingPost.com sells a nice complete electric epee (german tip, StM blue blade, grip of choice) for $80, minus 20% for online orders, so $64 (plus shipping and possibly tax). Its not fancy, and probably won't hold up if you fence 5 nights a week, but for a beginner like me, its pretty sweet)