Foils, sabres, and epees are built up of parts. When you purchase a complete weapon, you have weapon that was assembled by either the manufacturer or the vendor from a set of parts. If you are the sort of person who likes to know what they are fencing with, it makes sense to know what these parts are and what they do. There are four distinct patterns of foils (not including the wide range of orthopaedic grips) in use in the classical period: Italian, French, Spanish, and German.
In general discussions of the structure of the foil are based on two systems - the blade consisting of the parts of the blade and the Hilt consisting of everything from the guard or bell back to the pommel.
The Blade
The blade in all four Schools covered here is generally similar, with three exceptions. The blade can be characterized as having the following parts:
- Length - determining length is difficult because of varying measurements of lengths as we enter the classical period. For example, Italian blades in Naples and Sicily were measured in palmi - 4 palmi (approximately 38 inches in Naples and Sicily and either 3.6 palmi (34.8 inches) or 3.5 palmi (33 inches) in the rest of Italy. Examples of German thrust fencing blades have a length of 34.5 inches (starting from 28.25 inches in a 1760 specimen). We do not have specific data from Spanish School weapons, but photographs suggest that they were in the 34 t0 35 inch range. French School weapons were as long as 34 inches in 1875; in 1889 they were specified as 33 to 34 inches in length, and 1892 they were not to exceed 35 inches.
- Button - a covering of leather tied in place with cord, in more modern times rubber, or, for the fencer on a budget, athletic tape. The purpose of the button was to protect the opponent and their uniform from being cut by the edges of the nail head.
- Point - underneath the button, the actual rebated point resembling the head of a nail or some other shape.
- A number of divisions or grades appropriate to the doctrine of the fencing School (see blog post W.1. How Many Sections to the Foil Blade? ... June 2019 ... and W.2. Additions to the Number of Sections to the Blade ... December 2021).
- Two flats and 2 edges - generally only discussed in Italian fencing. The flats are the width of the blade, evident when the blade is laid on a table with the wide part of the blade upward. The two edges are named based on the nearest arch - the edge next to the arch on the true edge of the sword is the inside edge. The edge next to the arch on the false edge of the sword is the outside edge
- Balance - the center of gravity of the weapon as a point on the blade ranging from immediately forward of the bell of four fingers from the bell (see W.3. Balance Point of the Blade ... December 2021).
- Shoulder - the junction of the blade and the tang that rests either on the guard or on a rosette. Found in French foil blades.
- Ricasso - found only in the Italian foil, a flat and somewhat widened section of the blade between the guard and the crossbar.
- Neck - the square portion of tang starting at the shoulder and ending at the round portion of the tang. Typically, it fits securely in the bell and forward portion of the grip to ensure a secure fit and to prevent the blade twisting in the grip.
- Tang - the extension of the blade to the pommel. Various methods were used to secure the tang in the pommel including hammering the end of the tang flat over the end of the opening in the pommel, systems of slotted screws that moved in a channel in the pommel and into which the tang was screwed, to eventually directly screwing the pommel onto the tang. The tang is alternatively referred to as the Tongue in one source of French origin.
The French Hilt
The French hilt was distinguished by a wide number of variants, including: lunette or figure 8 guards, lens shaped guards, circular bells of various diameters, and rectangular guards. However, in general, the French hilt is the simplest of the hilts described in this post.
- Rosette - a metal rosette or circle in front of the guard and at the base of the shoulder that serves either a decorative purpose or provides structural support.
- Bell - the bell is a domed guard of various heights that is pierced for the ricasso of the blade, protects the hand, and performs a role in closing the line and parrying.
- Thumb pad - a thumb pad of felt, leather, or similar material is located on the blade inside the bell to cushion blows to the hand.
- Martingale - loop of leather or cord fastened between the thumb pad and the grip with the purpose of preventing a dropped or disarmed weapon from injuring the Jury or spectators or other fencers. One source indicated that the martingale helped in the execution of the coupe. Although the rules of fencing required a martingale a late as 1968 for non-electric weapons, it's use was by no means universal.
- Grip - typically a wooden grip wrapped in cord. The grip was often supplied as a straight grip aligned with an unbent tang - a most uncomfortable lack of cant to the weapon which reduces the ability to effectively employ finger play. The tang should be bent so that grip can be held effectively in the hand.
- Pommel - the pommel secures the blade and is tightened to secure the hilt and the blade together. Pommels on French weapons could be found in a variety of decorative designs.
The Italian Fioretto Hilt
The Italian fioretto had a structurally more complicated form of guard and grip than the French foil and the German thrust rappier. It also was distinguished by a wide number of variants, including: different size guards, arches, rectangular arches, and crossbars, the cross bar at an angle to make it easier to hold, and grips straight or shaped to conform to the hand.
The basic common elements of structure:
- Bell (coccia) - the bell is a domed guard of various heights that is pierced for the ricasso of the blade, protects the hand, and performs a role in closing the line and parrying.
- Lip (rivettino) - older Italian guards can be found with a lip, a narrow rim that faces forward on the guard with the intent of catching the point of the opponent's blade.
- Arches (archetti) - two circular arches, oriented on the same axis as the cross bar, join the bell and the crossbar. The height of the arches is determined by the length of the ricasso.
- Crossbar (gavigliano) - the cross bar includes connections to the arches and a channel in its center to meet the bottom of the ricasso, pass the tang through the crossbar, and to seat the forward end of the grip.
- Note that the bell, arches, and crossbar form an integrated whole with the arches and crossbar either constructed as a unit or welded together. The bell may be rivetted to the termination of the arches.
- Thumb pad (cuscinetto)- a thumb pad of felt, leather, or similar material is located on the ricasso inside the bell to cushion blows to the hand.
- Grip (manico) - the grip is straight and noticeably shorter than that of the French grip.
- Knuckle Bow - the knuckle-bow is a metal bow starting at the crossbar moving generally outward from the crossbar, parallel to the grip, and ending curving in the to pommel. It provides additional protection to the hand and fingers. When the hand is in Italian hand position 1 it is upward, position 2 to the inside, position 3 downward, and position 4 to the outside. This distinguishes an older pattern weapon, although its use continues well into the classical period.
- Pommel (pomo) - a cone shaped pommel secures the blade and is tightened to secure the hilt (guardia) and the blade (lama) together.
- Binding - the Italian foil can be bound to the hand and wrist with a handkerchief, cord, or leather strap. This is an individual choice to increase power and maintain control, and not all Italian fencers used such a binding. However, when it was used it became an essential adjunct to the weapon.
The Italian hilt is held with the thumb on the ricasso, the index finger below the ricasso so that these two fingers provide the control for movement of the blade. The middle finger slides around and behind the crossbar so that its upper digits rest at the inside intersection of the crossbar and ricasso. The remaining two fingers, with the middle finger, provide for a strong grip of the grip.
The German Kreusslerian Thrust Fencing School
- The bell is circular, but shallower, allowing approximately a thumb's width of distance between the guard and the crossbar at the center, or flat.
- There are no arches, just a crossbar. In most cases the crossbar is secured to the bell.
- The blade typically does not have a ricasso.
- The handle is straight and often shorter than the French grip, typically with a round pommel.
The Spanish School Foil
Maestro Adelardo Sanz's original design for the foil for the Spanish School survives in its patent application.
- The original foil guard featured a four lobed guard with each lobe extending backward for some distance (top, bottom, inside, outside). The guard eventually became similar to the standard guard used in French Foil, possibly as a manufacturing and cost decision.
- The grip is straight, extending from the inside surface of the guard back to the pommel.
- The grip is held in position by a circular opening in the cross guard.
- The crossbar is bent with two 90 degree turns and is oriented from the top lobe to the bottom lobe, with the top of the crossbar following a semi-circle to the outside so that the thumb can remain on the top side of the handle.
- The two resulting divisions of the space behind the guard are larger (to accommodate the thumb) on the top, and smaller on the bottom.
- The pommel is a standard foil pommel.
The configuration of this grip and guard results in a normal hand position of thumb up (Italian 3rd hand position). There are a number of variants during the lifetime of this guard and grip with the different configurations of the handle and the crossbar being fitted to the handle.
The Parts and the School
This variety of parts shows the variety of approaches of the different Schools of fencing to the components of the weapon. Just like in any other elements of a School, when you start building your own weapons from parts, it is important to keep the final product authentic to the practice of your School. It is physically possible to build an Italian foil with no arches or crossbar, but why would you want to? The end product would not handle the way that either the French or Italian Schools would consider appropriate for a foil.
Sources:
Amberger, J. Christoph; "Old School: Four Kreußlerian Foils; [Internet article]; at https://fencingclassics.wordpress.com/2016/05/09/old-school-four-kreuslerian-foils/; 9 May 2016.
Amberger, J. Christoph; "Rappier, Stossfectel, Florett: A German foil, latter half of the 19th century"; [magazine article]; Fencer's Quarterly Magazine, Volume 8 Number 1/2/3, Summer/Fall/Winter 2003; page 68.
Bacarreza, Leonardo; Some Biographical Notes about Adelardo Sanz
from Spanish Newspapers; [monograph]; Classical Academy of Arms, Glen
Allen, Virginia, United States of America; 2016.
Barbasetti, Luigi; The Art of the Foil; [fencing manual]; E. P. Dutton and Company, Inc., New York, New York, United States of America; 1932.
Castello Fencing Equipment Company; Catalog; [fencing equipment catalog]; New York, New York, United States of America; 1936.
Castille Armory; "Build Your Own Smarra: 18th-19th Century Smarra"; [Internet product advertisement]; at castilearmory.com/product/build-your-own-smarra; accessed 2 December 2021.
Collmore Dunn, H. A.; Fencing; [fencing manual]; George Bell
and Sons, London, United Kingdom; 1889.
Monstery, Thomas Hoyer; Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies;
edited by Ben Miller; [combatives manual]; Blue Snake Books, Berkeley,
California, United States of America; 2015.
Rossi, Giordano; Theoretical-Practical Manual for Sword and Sabre Fencing; translation by Sebastian Seager; [fencing manual]; Milan, Italy, translated edition by the Melbourne Fencing Society, Carnegie, Victoria, Australia; 1885, translation 2021.
Roux, Johann Wilhelm; Manual for the Art of Fencing According to Mathematical and Physical Principles; translation by Tobias Zimmerman; [fencing manual]; Academic Bookstore’s Publishing, Jena, Gotha, Germany; 1808.
Roux, Friedrich August Wilhelm Ludwig; Die Kreussler'sche Stossfechtschule for Use by Academies and Military Schools Based on a Mathematical Basis; translation by Christopher Treichel; [fencing manual]; Druck and Verlag von Friedrich Mauke, Jena, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Germany; translated and reprinted by Christopher Treichel; 1849, reprinted 2016.
Sanz, Adelardo; patent application for the first pattern of the Spanish foil; [patent application]; Negociado de Industria y Registro, Industrial y Commercial, Madrid, Spain, no date.
Scorza, Giuseppe Rosaroll, and Pietro Grisetti; The Science
of Fencing; translation by Christopher Holzman; [fencing
manual]; Milano, Italy; 1803; reprinted by Christopher Holzman, Wichita,
Kansas, United States of America; 2018.
Copyright 2022 by Walter G. Green III
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