Ren Fair Fencing

[Panzer]

I have just recently started fencing at ren fairs with a performance group and was curious to see how many other Xmarkers were into fencing. I'm not talking about heavy weapons like SCA but more along the lines of rapier, epee, sabre, and foil. And yes, I do fence in a kilt... Also, if anyone knows of a good source for equipment...

[sathor]

I forgot where I got my stuff, but I used to fence, and Panache (sp?) also used to fence.

I can't seem to find the site I bought my jacket, and I can't remember the blade maker either, A friend still has my foil.

[Panache]

A former epee' fencer here (though I liked fencing all three)

We used to have in my family 2 ladies fencing jackets that belonged to my Maternal Grandmother. They were from the fifties and did not fit between the legs like a man's jacket but ended at the waist jike a saber fencer's jacket.

The reason was that lady fencers were allowed to wear skirts and below the waist was off target.

If you wish to fence in a kilt you might wish to ask for the same exception when fencing foil.

Cheers

Jamie

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Epee was my weapon-- I hated the concept of "right of way"! My best competition year I finished 12th overall in the Men Over 40 division. As far as equipment goes I always bought my stuff from Leon Paul in London.

There is supposed to be a very good supplier in Burbank, California. Unfortunately, even though I drive past it regularly when I'm working out there, I don't recall its name. You might try the Yellow Pages...

(I just checked, and the blades on my weapons are marked either "Leon Paul" or "Lame" [pronounced Lam-ay in the UK]. I suspect Lame, a French company, supplies the blades for Leon Paul.)

[Panache]

Epee was my weapon-- I hated the concept of "right of way"!

MoR,

Did you ever find that when (if) you fenced foil that the reflex to hit multiple times was impossible to stop. Many a time a friend would remark "you got the touch quit it will you!"

Cheers

Jamie

[Riverkilt]

Whoa! I fenced in college. Loved it! Even though we were taught the "proper" way to fence (in 1963) it was still a joy to slip off and whack away at each other like pirates...kinda silly with foils.

Picked it up again at a community level about 1980, but even in Smogville we couldn't find enough folks to keep things going.

Don't remember wanting repeat touches, wanted to skewer the other guy though.

And as soon as I read the idea of fencing kilted - YES!! Tell you what that funny leg position in pantz often caused certain parts of my body to smart or be squished painfully...difficult to even remember the pains. Kilts for sure for ALL fencers.

We could develop a whole new line of tartans - one for each fencing team...

Ron

[george7]

I used to fence foil, but ne'er in a kilt. It doesn't work too well with the vest. The way I tend to jab makes me think twice about doing that without the heavy canvass.

[Highlander31]

Richard Brown, a friend of mine founded Highlander Warriors, a San Francisco area based reenactment group. His link page does list weapons suppliers.

His website is http://www.diarmid.com/

His myspace is http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=92760520

Richard and his group are featured in the Nikki McKibbin music video "The Lie" (he is the gentleman who avenges the woman's honor.)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=143246573

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

MoR,

Did you ever find that when (if) you fenced foil that the reflex to hit multiple times was impossible to stop. Many a time a friend would remark "you got the touch quit it will you!"

Cheers

Jamie

Absolutely!!!!! Did you ever workout/warm up without a plastron to hone your self preservation skills? Boy, does THAT teach you to back up in a hurry!

As always--
My best regards!
Scott

[Panzer]

Well, I don't wear the heavy canvas jacket. But I am looking at getting a leather saber jacket.... I do recommend fencing in a kilt, though. It can be a bit akward at a ren fair in high winds, though...