All clubs will need an armourer. The responsibilities of the club armourer will vary, as the club grows and becomes established.

The work load will inevitably increase. Few

fencers who use club equipment learn to

Look after it, most electric blades suffer

from harsh treatment by fencers who

have never had Too or have no intension

of maintaining their own equipment.

Those of you who are returning to this web site may remember the original armourers page with its simple message. Learn about the weapon you are using and how it works. It was put in to hopefully reduce the work load of our armourer.

It appears to have inspired at least one manufacturer to produce a comprehensive set of illustrated sections on weapons operation and maintenance.

Their experience in this aspect of fencing is of the highest order, however as many service personnel will tell you there is a great difference between workshop and battle field maintenance.

Over the years many of the older fencers in this country have had to learn how to respect and  maintain their own equipment.

Today these techniques are fast becoming lost on the up and coming young fencers, as they rely more and more on the armourer.

The club armourer in most established clubs is usually one of the older experienced fencers, who have taken on the task which no one else is capable or willing too. It is not surprising when you look at the way some fencers treat their equipment.

Those experienced fencers among you will know what is coming next:

It is good practice to ask the club armourer or instructor devote some time to the aspects of equipment maintenance. These talks should be short and to the point!

 

So what are the armourers responsibilities:

The general maintenance of the club equipment.

In general most of the armours time will be spent on the maintenance of the electrical equipment.             

                              However the armourer must

                           also keep an eye on the non-                         electrical equipment. These are; masks, jackets, gloves and breeches. Other items which are some times forgotten are cups, plates, (don’t be silly!) bags, spare: blades, handles, buttons etc. This leads you to the upkeep of the steam weapons. The most common fault is button wear. Blades should be inspected systematically and those together with any equipment found to be unsafe removed from the armoury.

As regards the maintenance and repair of the electric weapons there are a number of well documented manuals available. What works for you is the important element. Start with a simple task– weapons test. What works on the bench may fail in combat. Only experience at the end of the day will enable you to diagnose the many faults that can develop. The best advice is to be systematic about the tests you make, take nothing for granted. Such helpful comments as “Every time I do a beat (which means every time it moves its hand) the white light comes up.” Your riposte of “well don't do a beat then.” will not cure either problem. However satisfying it feels.

‘No you must cure the problem.’

Simple diagnostics

They exist only in your dream world like fencers who look after the blades you loan them for the evening or for the weekend tourney they are attending.

This section could take three pages. However its not going too!

White light syndrome - insulation - bad connection - faulty or loose tip - break in wire.

Never assume it is the weapon. It could be the body wire - Spool - even the box.

If you are expecting a list of common faults and cures “forget it!” the above is to get you thinking systematically. It probably is the weapon and it will need re-wiring and a new tip assembly, but that’s another story.

To be continued when I have time.

Useful tip for fencers

I can say from vast experience that learning these

skills has in the past been very -  very useful at

Competitions, when your eyes are blurred with sweat and your hands are shaking as you try to make temporary repairs to your last surviving weapon out of the FIVE you arrived with!

Fencing with the  Salle JEUDI Group of Fencing Clubs

Fencing every day For Fencers in Four Counties

Armourers

Or! “Every time I do a beat.” (which means every time it moves it’s hand) “The white light comes up!”

Armourer

Dave Bamber has now for some years been our armourer - he started by repairing his sons electric foil, now he is one of the best armourers I have ever had in any of the clubs I have been associated with.

Assistant armourer

We now have an assistant armourer who is doing a great job of managing the armoury and learning the armourers skills.

Marc Beaumont took up his post in October last year and in truth he in turn could also do with an assistant.

So all of you using the electric equipment each evening are asked to help putting it all away again! In the proper space.

Note

There are now over 18 electric foils and 12 electric epee's + 5 electric sabres to look after for both senior and junior sections. Added to which are

seven boxes and seven spools/

cable sets. This does not include

the steam foils, epees and

sabres and other sundry

equipment needed to run the club.

False attack. A probing attack,  . . .
Oh go an' buy a book!
The best I've seen for years is Henry's

Don't get in that situation; get the knowledge now.

It is a very useful aspect of your training.

D.M.