Epee Guard Socket (Uhlmann)

This is a good, well engineered piece of equipment.



I like the fact that you can use any bodycord with this socket (the fat Ulhmann ones work with the retainer as well as the thin Prieur ones). This is not something that can be said of the Prieur sockets, which are not compatible with the Uhlmann bodycords.



I like that you just need a screwdriver to tighten the nuts that keep the wires in place. The Prieur socket requires you to get yet another wrench in your toolbox.



However I don't like the fact that some bodycords do get stuck in these sockets, especially when they are new. I suppose if they made the sockets a little wider then the plugs would have more chance to fall off, but most plugs have a system that allows you to widen it if that's necessary, so it's not too bad of a tradeoff.

While it doesn't seem like there is much that could go wrong with a socket, I have seen people get body cords stuck and I hate to work on the white prieur sockets with a plastic clip because the nuts tend to break wires.



I have never had any of these problems with the Uhlmann sockets. Also, they have the smallest profile of any socket so they stay out of the way of your hand.

These sockets are just about indestructible. The retaining clip is easy to get on and off. The sockets themselves don't have any signs of corrosion and they stay tight. I've only had one Uhlmann socket come apart and that was when a nut and bolt that holds it to the bracket fell out. My only complaint is that the metal bracket itself does not have a wire groove. I've had the bracket break some epee wires.

this is one of the best sockets i have seen. it is made of a durable hard plastic. it has a strong, substantual retaning clip that has a good rubber ball that does not tear off like some of the others. the sockets are also spaced correctly so the body cord fits right without having to force it or bend the prongs on the cord.