Grip / Tang Problem

[Duelist]

I recentely purchased a french grip from FencePBT and due to its curvature my straight tang will not go into it all the way. Any advice would be appreciated.

[MikeHarm]

Chop the tang, and slap a pistol grip on it instead.

[Inquartata]

Sometimes you get an extraordinarily tight fit. You'll probably have to force it on, might even have to use a hammer. ( Once the end of the tang begins to emerge from the end of the grip, lay a pair of crescent pliers or a socket wrench on the end of the grip and hammer that. You may have to put the forte of the blade in a vise. )

I often have to do this with my sabre grips---same problem, the things are curved. OTOH I also have to shim them with slivers of wood. It just depends on the idiosyncrasies of the particular blade.

[damianip]

Originally posted by Duelist
I recentely purchased a french grip from FencePBT and due to its curvature my straight tang will not go into it all the way. Any advice would be appreciated.

Give the tang a similar bend. Not as extreme but follow the shape as the grip. Try wiggling it onto the tang.

Then, apply force (brute force if necessary).

It's a more challenging situation with the SchermaSport grips, so, BTDT.

Paolo

[Duelist]

Thanks for the information everyone.

[laughingduelist]

Put the tang in a vice and bend it, carefully or you could put the grip in the vice and hammer it to the shape you want. (my coach was an olympic armorer, so weird as that sounds it can be done.)

[DangerMouse]

I use those french grips. Take the open end of a wrench (the circular part you would hang it from) and use that to bend the tang. I find a smooth bend down and inside works best. Keep trying. If you force the grip on, then it's hard to get off and can damage the threads in the process.