Saxon Fencing Club

Well here it is, your first sword: "The Foil".
It's overal length is upto 110cm, the blade being of a maximum of 90cm.
The blade is divided into 2 sections:

1. the Forte: this is the widest and strongest part of the blade (it has a square section), and
2. the Foible the wobbly thin bit (rectangular section).

You will learn what each part of the blade does in the lessons (hopefully!).
The rest of the weapon is composed of the following:

• At the business end of the blade is the Button, this stops you running through your opponent (it is, after all, a friendly sport not a gladitorial match);
• the Guard, a descriptively accurate name for the circular piece of metal that covers your sword hand when in action;
• the Hilt, the handle of the weapon. It is ergonomically shaped to fit your hand, so like the jacket comes in left and right hand versions. (There are different forms of hilt or Grip which you will encounter later, the illustrated example is the classic French Grip used to develope blade control and in tution);
• the Pommel this is actually a weight to help balance the weapon in your hand; and
• the funny looking loop is made of leather and called a Martingale, you place your fingers through it, so that if you loosen your grip you do not drop your foil.

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(There are specific technical datas as to the required strength and constuction of these materials, all available from the
British Fencing Association,
the governing body of the sport in the U.K.)