A fencing foil is a non-sharpened rapier-like weapon used in competitions and classes. There are two types: dry and electric, both with a pommel, guard, grip, blade, and thumb. The target area is the torso, and priority is determined by a system of parries and replies.
A fencing foil is a rapier-like weapon that does not have a sharpened edge and is typically used for fencing competitions and classes. The sheets are about 110 centimeters (43 inches) long and weigh about one kilogram (2 pounds). There are two types of foil used today, dry foil and electric foil. Both types have a pommel, guard, grip, blade and thumb. The pommel is the knob on the hilt of the foil.
The dry fencing foil is a conventional sword that usually has a plastic or rubber knob attached to the end to prevent injury. In international competition, the blade must be made of maraging steel, a steel alloy manufactured for hardness and strength and designed to break to prevent damage. Low carbon steel is used in local competitions around the world which allows the blade to bend, but not break.
A sheet of electric fencing has wires running all along the blade. The spike is a button that activates when it hits the opponent. If a hit is scored on a region that doesn’t qualify for a point, the light on the grip turns white. For all shots that score points, they glow green or red.
There are two basic types of grips for the modern fencing foil. The first is the straight grip. This grip is a conventional sword grip, with quillons under the pommel. Quillons are metal bars that form a handguard and prevent the hand from slipping onto the foil blade. The second type is the pistol grip, which is designed to be more ergonomic. For electrical foils, the wires run from the fencing foil grip to the wrist, where it connects to the body cord.
Modern foils are designed after small sword practice weapons. Longsword and rapier foils are also available, but function differently in terms of balance and weight. The target area for the modern sport of fencing comes from an era when duels to the death were commonplace. To score a point, a push must successfully land 500 grams (4.9 newtons) of force on the torso, where the vitals would be.
In the sport of fencing, the score does not necessarily go to the fencer who scores the first strike, but to the fencer who strikes the first strike and has priority. Priority is considered by a system of parries and replies. Deflecting an attacking opponent’s blade will prioritize the deflector, who can then attack. If that attack is later deflected, priority is returned to the initial attacker. This exchange continues until a hit is scored.
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