Used Scoring Equipment

[Lou Johnson]

I am a member of a small foil class at a small Arts Center. We would like to go to electric equipment and are looking for good used scoring equipment and reels. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[edew]

You can get new scoring machines for around $300. You're not going to find used ones for any cheaper.

As for reels, getting used reels will be cheaper, but you will be spending a long time fixing them. You might want to cruise out to the NCAAs in New Jersey this weekend and buy the reels from them after the event is over. They'll give you a good deal.

[neevel]

Not all that likely-- an almost constant rule of thumb in fencing is that everything gets used until it can't be used anymore.

You can get the Eigertek Eclipse for $350 from American (my personal preference), the Favero Full-Arm 01 for about $300 if you order from Europe ( <a href="http://www.favero.com" target="_blank">www.favero.com</a> ), or the Amico RS-05 for $255 from Fencesmart.

For reels, the cheapest way is to make your own bungee or clotheline-reel system. You can get all the parts but the plugs & sockets from a typical hardware store. Flat, 4-conductor phone cable is cheap, workable solution to cabling (it will need to be replaced more often, though), and you can kludge together the sockets using epee sockets, snap-hooks, and duct-tape. Doing so, you'll be able to get something crude but functional for under $130.

If you do want reels, get Uhlmann or Allstar reels from <a href="http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de" target="_blank">Fechtsport Langenkamp</a> in Germany. Resist the temptation to get the Russian reels that Blade sells-- you'll be needing to replace the cable in very short order.

-Dave

[Lou Johnson]

Thanks for the help. I will look into all of those suggestions (except for maybe going to NJ this weekend-4 hr drive from here.)