Sabre Fencing Equipment
In order to fence sabre you will need some essential equipment which can easily be found at your local fencing supply store. The essential equipment needed to fence sabre includes, a sabre, a mask, a jacket, and a fencing glove. If you are interested in fencing sabre in tournaments you will need some electrical equipment such as an electric sabre, electric sabre mask, a lame, a wrist lame (or a sabre glove), electric boxes, body cords, and of course a place to fence (Fencing strip). Equipment was not always used but in order to fence sabre in modern times it is illegal to not use it. Below is an explanation of each of these pieces of equipment and what they are used for.
- Sabre/Electric Sabre- A sabre is a fencing weapon that is essential if you wish to fence sabre. This weapon is a sword with a slightly curved blade with a bell shaped guard at the bottom, which also uses a basic or French grip. You can also get an electric sabre which is the exactly the same except it has holes built into the guard of the sabre which connects to a body cord.
- Mask/Sabre Mask- A mask is the second essential piece of equipment needed to begin fencing sabre. Your mask will protect your face from the opposing sabre fencer’s attacks. This mask consists of a metal frame connected with metal wire across it. If you wish to fence electric you must get an electric mask which is the same as a regular mask but has a clip on the back to put a second body cord. This electric sabre mask conducts electricity so that electrical equipment will register when a hit is made on the mask.
- Jacket- A fencing jacket is the third essential piece of equipment to begin fencing. This jacket is usually a white vest that covers your torso, including your arms and neck. This very important article of clothing protects the sabre fencer’s body from making contact which the opposing fencer’s sabre, which could cause welts, and even cuts.
- Glove/Sabre Glove- A fencing glove is the final essential piece of equipment required to begin fencing sabre. This glove is like any other glove except it extends down the forearm of the sabre fencer. This glove also has padding on the fist part to help better protect the sabre fencer from his or her opponents’ sabre. If you wish to fence with electric equipment you need either a sabre glove which is the same as a regular fencing glove but has the same material a lame is made out of from the wrist up. If you do not have a sabre glove then you must get a wrist lame which is a circular lame that goes around your wrist of your sabre hand. A special glove is needed to fence sabre electrically because the lame is made of material that will conduct electricity.
- Lame- A lame is a fencing jacket which will go over your first fencing jacket. These two pieces are very similar except that the lame is covered with a layer of conductive metal which will cause the electric equipment to register. In order to begin fencing sabre you need a special lame that covers not only your torso but also your arms unlike other kinds of lames.
- Body Cords- Body cords are an essential part of electrical sabre fencing but is not needed for normal sabre fencing. Body cords are wires they are threaded through your jacket and plug into your sabre, the other end is then plugged into the electrical equipment. This allows your sabre to register a hit when you make contact with the opposing sabre fencer’s lame.
- Electric Boxes- Electric boxes are only needed for fencing electric sabre and are not needed for normal sabre fencing. An electric box is a box with two lights on it. These lights either turn red or green when a sabre touches the opposing sabre fencer’s lame. These boxes help the judge of the bout determine who gets the point.
- The Strip- The strip is the place in which you will be fencing. The strip is a rectangular box which is either taped or drawn on the ground where you will be fencing sabre. The rules of sabre fencing state that if you step out of the box the opposing sabre fencer will be granted a point, so it is very important that you get used to fencing within this box without stepping out of it.
