Choosing a Weapon for Sword Fencing

Video Transcript

"The most exciting piece you're probably going to choose and buy is your fencing weapon. So, let's talk about buying a foil and an epee. You will want to choose what kind of grip it is you like to use. I prefer French grips myself. The difference is largely preference, but I definitely recommend that beginners begin with a French grip, just because it really helps establishing point control in the beginning. Some people do like the pistol grips, which, you can see, is shaped a little bit like a pistol. It can be comfortable in the hand, and that fits just like this over your fingers. And it also helps keep from being disarmed. It's really the primary advantage of using a pistol grip is that it's harder to lose control of this weapon or to be disarmed. Where you can buy your weapon either pre-assembled or you can buy it custom, you can buy each piece. Pre-assembled is easiest, especially in the beginning, but later, if you develop specific preferences about your blade and your guard and your grip that you want to specify, you can put it together yourself. You can also replace blades when they break. Broken blades do happen. They happen regardless, but you can choose a weapon that is less likely to break. So, something like a Chinese blade is pretty notorious for breaking easily, whereas a Maraging blade is the highest standard. It's the FIE regulation blade, and, not because it won't break, but because it's ten times less likely to break. It's a high nickel concentration, low carbon concentration steel. So, I recommend that if you are willing to invest, and definitely if you're going into competition you will need it, but in the beginning any blade that fits you works. So, in deciding what kind of blade fits you, you can only find out through using it. But usually something that's comfortable in your hand. People prefer different levels of stiffness. A light blade is usually a good blade, so you'll develop those preferences, which is one reason why, in the beginning, it's good to buy a starter blade, and as you invest more in fencing you'll probably want more than one. You can pick up a blade pretty cheaply. You can get a blade for twenty-five dollars. A foil or an epee for twenty-five dollars. Or you can spend a hundred and fifty dollars on up. So, it depends on what it is that you want, and how much it is that you want to invest. But, in the end, it's one of the best investments you can make in your fencing because I like to have control over what blade I have, and I like to have my own and I like to have a few of them."