Why a Year on FIE Jackets / Knickers / Masks, etc...?

[onesandzeros]

What does the year signify on the FIE patches on equipment?
Does FIE equipment / clothing ever expire?

[DHCJr]

Like a lot of rules and laws, some become obsolete, but are not changed. Blades used to expire after 5 years. They used to require punch tests on FIE masks if they were over a year old. Nothing now has an expiration date, but the date can be used for other things.

For example, some fakes and frauds have been found by noting the dates and knowing that item was not certified for that year. For example France-Lame 'FIE' masks for certain years were not FIE.

Nobody has taken the time to remove the rule, now that there is no expiration. When was the last time, someone used a shim on a Foil, but there is still a shim test in Foil.

[Fechter1]

Originally posted by DHCJr
When was the last time, someone used a shim on a Foil, but there is still a shim test in Foil.

Not to mention sabre...

[DHCJr]

The Sabre shim test is used at every major International competition as the test is still a valid test and was set up for Safety. It is not done at most USFA competitions, because of time.

Also how many have a legal Sabre shim. If you have an Uhlmann, Leon Paul, AllStar you don't have one. They are not 3mm thick.

The Sabre test is still done and is still valid. While the Foil shim test hasn't been applicable since the '60's.