part of Olympics ?
> >Foil, even classical foil, is an
> incredible abstraction from the weapon it's based on, the epee.
>
> Actually, everything I've read on this subject says that the foil precedes
> the epee. The foil was an abstraction of the smallsword, taken on because
> it was less dangerous--The first sport weapon, as it were.

Actually it seems to be even earlier than that.

There is a square section foiled blade, obviously manufactured like that,
in the Royal Armouries collection at Leeds. It is in a case with what
looks like a matching rapier, both with 'quarter' type hilts (As described
in Oakeshott, European Armour and Weapons) and marked 'German rapier and
matching foil, circa 1600'.

They're in the 'Personal weapons' gallery if anyone wants to take a look.
--
William Black
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