Grip (fencing)

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In sport fencing, the handle is the part of the weapon that is held in the hand by the fencer. The various parts of the weapon - essentially the handle, bell and blade - are produced separately from one another, so that each weapon can be individually assembled by its user. While the saber fencing is only one form of the handle in are Florett- and epee fencing various forms used mainly for orthopedic handle ( "pistol grip") and the French grip. Depending on the size of the hand, the handles are supplied in different sizes, and models for right and left-handers also differ.

Foil and sword

There are different handles in foil and epee fencing. The competition rules do not prescribe a specific form, but only make very general requirements to ensure equal opportunities. The maximum length of the handle is eight inches and the handle must not be wider than the bell. If the handle has a special shape that fixes the fingers in the handle (orthopedic or Italian handles, see below), the thumb may not be more than two centimeters away from the bell in the intended hand position.

French handle

The French handle is straight or slightly curved, at its end a heavier and slightly enlarged pommel is attached. In order to use it, the middle link of the index finger is placed on the handle from below, the thumb is placed on the handle from above. The weapon is controlled by the thumb and forefinger, the other fingers grip the handle and help stabilize the weapon. Since the French handle does not have any devices for fixing the fingers, it can be held at any point on the handle. If you want to gain additional reach, the handle is gripped as far back as possible, near the knob. If you hold it close to the bell, this enables more controlled blade guidance and more powerful parades. Since the additional reach is usually irrelevant in foil fencing, the French grip is used almost exclusively in epee fencing.

  • French handle on a foil

  • Sword with French handle

  • Curved French rapier handle

Italian handle

The Italian grip is straight and has a cross-guard behind the bell and two rings through which the fingers are passed. The thumb and index finger are placed between the crossguard and the bell, the middle finger is passed through one of the rings. Like the orthopedic handle, the handle enables powerful control of the blade, but at the expense of less precise blade guidance. It can be seen as the forerunner of the modern orthopedic grip and is rarely used in modern sport fencing.

  • Italian handle

  • Foil with an Italian handle

Orthopedic handle

The orthopedic or pistol grip has a special shape designed to make it easier to hold the weapon. In order to be used in competitions, the handle may only fix the hand in one position, the thumb may be a maximum of two centimeters away from the bell. In addition, the shape of the handle is not further regulated, so that different variants of orthopedic handles exist. Orthopedic handles have existed at least since the beginning of the twentieth century, Walter Guerry Green III already lists fifteen different models for the first half of the twentieth century. Even today, manufacturers of fencing articles offer a wide variety of models. In foil fencing, the orthopedic grip is now used almost exclusively, as better control over the weapon outweighs the low range advantages that one has with the French grip. In epee fencing, on the other hand, many fencers prefer the French grip, depending on their individual fencing style.

  • Visconti

  • "Belgian" or "English" handle

  • "Russian" handle

  • Pistol grip mounted on a sword

saber

The saber handle is a maximum of 17 cm long. Unlike the other weapons, there is only one shape. The handle is usually made of plastic or metal and is sometimes covered with leather.

  • Saber for sport fencing

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b c Material Rules, m.4. (PDF) Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, accessed on January 20, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Katrin Barth, Berndt Barth: I learn fechten , Meyer & Meyer Verlag, Aachen 2009, p. 42
  3. ↑ Igor Chirashnya: Academy of Fencing Masters Blog. Academy of Fencing Masters Blog, November 18, 2018, accessed June 15, 2020 .
  4. ↑ George Kokochashvili, Sandra Kokochashvili (2016): Fencing sport weapon handles (grips), the short chronology and history , Online at ResearchGate
  5. ^ Walter Guerry Green III: Distinguishing characteristics of classical fencing when compared to modern fencing. Diploma thesis, Classical Academy of Arms, 2016, p. 38.
  6. ↑ The designation varies (as with the other handles) depending on the manufacturer