Fencing weapons
The three weapons of fencing are the foil, the épée and the sabre,
each with different characteristics, rules and strategies.
The goal of fencing is to get a point or a hit by touching your opponent’s target with your weapon before they manage to touch you, but the rules, strategies and target areas differ for each weapon.
As such, most fencers develop a preference and proficiency for one weapon over the others, but many enjoy the challenge and diversion of occasionally facing another weapon or even developing proficiency with a second weapon.
The foil and épée are thrusting weapons, while the sabre can be scored using any part of the blade. The three weapons also have different rules as to what constitutes a hit.
Épée fencers can score anywhere on the body, and both players can score if they hit each other within a quarter of a second. In foil and sabre, if both players strike simultaneously, the point is awarded to the attacker.
Foil
The foil is developed from the training weapons of the late 16th century in France and Italy, with a blunt or folded tip, protected with a piece of cloth (“knob”): as the fencing mask did not yet exist, counter-attacks and forward blows were forbidden to avoid injury. The name of the weapon comes from the French fleuret, which itself probably comes from the Italian fioretto, ‘little flower’, from the similarity of the weapon’s tip to the bud of a flower.
Weapon characteristics:
- maximum total length = 110 cm
- total weight = 500 g
- small circular hand guard that serves to protect the hand from direct stabs; maximum total length = 18 cm
- two grips are used in foil: straight traditional grips with external pommels (Italian, French, Spanish, and orthopedic varieties); and the newer design of pistol grips, which fix the hand in a specific, ergonomic position, and which have pommels that fit into a countersink in the grip
- the blade of a foil has two sections: the forte (strong) which is the one third of the blade near the guard, and the foible (weak) which is the two thirds of the blade near the tip
Touches are given by thrust, with a required pressure on the tip of at least 500 g, for a period longer than 14 ms; the target area is the torso – including the back (limbs and head are excluded); a double touch does not exist (attack priority is given), the invalid touch (white lamp) exists.
Duration of a duel: three rounds of three minutes each (with a one-minute break between rounds) or until one of the combatants reaches 15.
Sabre
This weapon is derived from the light sword (in Italian sciabola), created in Italy in the mid-19th century for duels. The valid striking surface comprises the upper part of the body, from the head to the inguinal fold, i.e. the torso, arms, glove cuff and mask.
Weapon characteristics:
- maximum total length = 105 cm
- total weight = 500 g
- the conventional handle of the sabre is shaped so that it may be held so that the hand may slide down to gain further extension of the weapon relative to the fencer; maximum total length = 17 cm
- The guard is full in shape, made in one piece and is externally smooth, the curvature of the guard is continuous without any aesthetic perforations or rims. The interior of the guard is fully insulated by either paint or a pad. The guard is designed to provide the hand adequate protection to ensure that injury does not occur which may hinder the performance of the fencer. Guards are dimensionally measured 15 cm by 14 cm in section where the blade is parallel with the axis of the gauge.
- The cross-sectional profile of the sabre blade is commonly a V-shaped base which transitions to a flat rectangular shaped end with most blade variants, but this is dependent on the how it is manufactured. This allows the blade to be flexible towards the end.
Touches are given by thrust (with the tip), cutting edge and countercut (with both sides of the blade); the target area is the upper body (torso, arms – without gloves, mask); double touches do not exist (attack is given priority), an invalid touch (white blade) exists.
Duration of a duel: until one of the combatants reaches 15, with a break when reaching 8.
Épée
The épée is a weapon derived from the rapier, a long, thin-bladed sword that appeared in the late 15th century, originally used for duels, and most duels were fought at “first blood”, so that a blow to the hand or leg would mean victory, not needing to hit a vital organ.
Defence has the great advantage, and battles tend to involve mind games, in which each fencer avoids attacks and tries to take advantage of every little mistake of the opponent; direct attack is not the wisest way in épée.
Weapon characteristics:
- maximum total length = 110 cm
- total weight = 770 g
- The tip of an electric épée, called the "button", comprises several parts: the mushroom-shaped, movable pointe d'arrêt ('point of arrest') at the end; its housing or "barrel" which is threaded onto the blade; a contact spring; and a return spring.
- The guard has numerous forms, but all are essentially a hemispherical shield, the section of which fits in a 10–13.5 cm cylinder. This is frequently called a bell guard. As the hand is a valid target in competitive fencing, the guard is much larger and more protective than that of a foil, having a depth of 3–5.5 cm and a diameter more likely to be toward the maximum of 13.5 cm.
- The blade of an épée is triangular in section, whereas that of a foil is rectangular, and neither blade has a cutting edge.
Touches are given by thrust, with a required pressure on the tip of minimum 750 g, for a period longer than 2 ms; the target area is the whole body (including mask, glove and shoes); double touch is possible, there are no invalid touches (white lamp).
Duration of a duel: three rounds of three minutes each (with a one-minute break between rounds) or until one of the combatants reaches 15.
