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1 For opens and nationals,
access (on the piste) to at least 2 working weapons
and body wires is required.
If an item of equipment passes weapons check it will
be marked with a weapons check mark. Weapons check
marks will change from tournament to tournament and
day to day. If your equipment fails, you will be
told why – this will help you rectify the problem
(if possible). If you can repair the equipment, you
can resubmit it for weapons check. The weapons check
team does not perform equipment repairs.
If you fence more than one weapon, please only
present the equipment you will be fencing with on
that particular day. Weapons must be checked on the
day on which they will be used. This also applies is
you fence a weapon on multiple days (e.g. in
different age groups or both team and individual
events). Even if the equipment passed weapons check
the day before, they must be presented again.
Your responsibilities
Your safety is your responsibility. Please ensure
that your equipment is safe and in good working
order. There should be no holes, tears or other weak
points in your jackets, breeches, plastrons, gloves,
masks or other protective equipment.
If possible, please check your equipment before the
competition. This speeds up the weapons check
process for you and for others.
Arrive early enough to ensure there is sufficient
time for weapons check. Make provision for possible
delays, e.g. queues or time to repair failed
equipment (and resubmit it for weapons check).
The referee may check any of your equipment at the
piste for a valid weapons check mark – the absence
of a weapons check mark is a red card offence. To
avoid giving your opponent a free point, please
ensure that when you receive your equipment back
from weapons check, it has been marked appropriately
(and that you know where to find the mark).
What checks are performed?
Body wires and mask clips
The resistance across a body wire should be less
than or equal to 1 ohm. This can be tested with an
ohmmeter. Alternatively a test box will be used. The
insulation on the body wire should be complete and
whole and in the case of foil/sabre body wires, the
crocodile clip should be robust.
Foil/sabre body wires are tested with a test box by
plugging it in to the test box and shorting across
the two pins (with e.g. a screwdriver or coin). The
red light should come on the test box. When the
alligator clip is connected to the thin prong, the
green light should come on. For bayonet body wires,
tip and the “ring” of the bayonet must be shorted.
Epee body wires are tested similarly. When shorting
across the center prong and the one closest to it ,
the red light should come on. Shorting across the
center prong and the one farthest away from it
should cause the green light to come on.
The resistance/conductivity of Sabre mask clips can
be tested with an ohmmeter or by using the mask clip
to short the pins on a body wire (that has already
passed weapons inspection).
Lamé, Conductive glove and Manchette
A visual inspection of the lamé will be performed.
It should have no holes and the interior should be
electrically insulated. The conductivity of the lame
will be tested. This will be performed either via an
ohmmeter (the resistance between any two points less
than or equal to 5 ohms) or by using a body wire and
test box.
When testing with a body and test box, the body wire
will be plugged into the test box with the crocodile
clip attached to the lamé. The other end of the body
wire will be run over the entire surface of the lame
ensuring both pins – or the tip and the “ring” of
the bayonet plug – are in contact with the lamé. The
lights on the test box should be on during this
process to indicate conductivity. This test must be
performed with a body wire that has already passed
weapons inspection.
Conductive gloves and machettes for sabre are tested
in the same way.
Mask
A visual (and tactile) inspection of the mask will
be performed. The mask should be in good condition
with no rust or dents. All rivets or screws should
be secure. If there are any broken wires, the mask
is unsafe and should not be used. The bib should be
securely attached and have no holes. The safety
strap of the mask must be in place.
For sabre masks, the conductivity of the mesh and
the bib will be tested as well. This is performed in
the same manner as the lame conductivity test.
Weapons (General)
Weapons should not be capable of injuring opponent;
they should not have sharp edges/angles and should
not be rusty. Curves in the blade should be
continuous – there should be no sharp bends.
Epee
An epee can weigh a maximum of 770g. The maximum
length of the epee blade is 90cm (110cm for the
total weapon) and the curve of the blade should be
less than 1cm. The blade must be mounted so that the
groove in the blade is uppermost. This also means
that an orthopedic/pistol grip must be mounted so
that the thumb position is uppermost. The blade can
be mounted off-centre (max 3.5cm) of the guard. The
barrel should not be loose and both grub screws must
be in place.
The guard and grip will be inspected to ensure that
a part of the grip or socket does not extend past
the edge of the guard (i.e. afford more protection
than the guard) and that the guard should not be
able to hold or catch the opponent’s point. The
guard should include a cushion/padding wide enough
to protect the electric wires from the fencer’s
fingers. Both wires must be insulated – right up to
the socket and should not protrude past the socket.
The socket should not include any part with allows
contact to be made or broken
If the grip fixes the position of the hand (i.e.
orthopedic/pistol) grip,
o It must determine and fix only one position for
the hand (i.e. not changing grips/ can’t pommel with
a pistol grip)
o hand position should have the thumb within 2cm of
inner surface of the bell guard
Orthopedic/pistol grips cannot be covered in any
material, e.g. leather, tape etc which could cover a
switch.
Using a test box and shims, the weight and travel of
the epee will be tested. It must take more than 750g
to register a hit (there is tolerance of 3g for test
weights, so the test weight used might in fact be
753g) and it should require a minimum of 1mm of
travel to register a hit (the maximum travel should
exceed 1.5mm).
When first plugged into the test box, the epee
should not register a hit (as indicated by a light
on the test box). When the tip is depressed, a hit
should be registered (indicated by a light on the
test box). The epee should be able to support the
test weight without registering a hit. When the
weight is pushed down, the epee tip spring should be
able to lift it back up. The tip should be able to
accommodate a 1.5mm shim and should not register a
hit with a .5mm shim in place.
Foil
A foil can weigh a maximum of 500g. The maximum
length of the epee blade is 90cm (110cm for the
total weapon) and the curve of the blade should be
less than 2cm. The blade must be mounted so that the
groove in the blade is uppermost. This also means
that an orthopedic/pistol grip must be mounted so
that the thumb position is uppermost. The blade must
be mounted in the centre of the guard.
For your own protection, the barrel and top part of
the blade (15cm) should be taped and pommel/or rear
extremity of grip should be insulated.
Using a test box and shims, the weight and stroke of
the foil will be tested. It must take more than 500g
to register a hit (there is tolerance of 2g for test
weights, so the test weight used might in fact be
502g) and the stroke should be 1mm or less.
When first plugged into the test box, the foil
circuit should register as closed (as indicated by a
light on the test box). When the tip is depressed,
the light should go off, indicating the circuit is
broken. The foil should be able to support the test
weight without breaking the circuit. When the weight
is pushed down, the foil tip spring should be able
to lift it back up.
Sabre
The maximum length of the sabre blade is 88cm (105cm
for the total weapon). The end of the blade should
folded over on itself or formed into a button
presenting a rectangular section of between 4-6mm.
The curve of the blade should be less than 4cm and
must not bend in direction of the edge, i.e. the
blade should bend left or right when viewing the
edge. S2000 or greater should be marked on the
blade. For your benefit, the exterior of guard must
be insulated for 7-8cm from the pommel.
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