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The Armoury Workshop
A manual in plain language with illustrations, diagrams and small video clips, aimed at different levels of users from new fencers and parents to expert armourers.
Links to external resources are curated for for being congruent with our practices. In essence we hope this site will become the most comprehensive collection of fencing armoury resources on the internet.
The workshop is divided into modules each having blocks of text in short, digestible chunks that can be opened as needed that gives sufficient detail to carry out a good repair. Using text means it is easier to present some details as options, or as a separate post or page, than squeeze it all into videos containing all the options, especially while the content is under development.
It is intended that each module will act as a script for a video production at a future date.
Those on the ADP (Athlete Development Programme)
– will need a combination of Basic and Advanced skills including knowledge of safety, clothing and other regulations to pass the British Fencing Armoury modules. These will be flagged up when available but all start with the Basic Foil, Epee and Sabre modules.
Volunteers at competitions
Those assisting with set up and take down at competition venues are recommended to be familiar, at a minimum, with Volunteer Field of Play and Scoring Kit modules to ensure theirs and others safety and avoid inadvertently damaging the equipment, which is easily done.
8 armourers in a room …
– will have 8 different methods, preferences, variations, likes and dislikes! There is often no one best way to repair or configure fencing kit. The key questions are – does the method work – is it safe,- will it last- does it allow future maintenance – does it comply with the regulations – and does it get the fencer fencing?
There are always alternatives so these modules are considered good practice not necessarily best practice. There is provision for publishing alternatives. Submit your notes and documents through the comment boxes or via the Ask an Armourer page if you have a better procedure to offer or to fill one of the empty modules below.
Feedback
Use the Comments areas on each page to offer ideas or alternatives. Constructive criticism, please!
Questions
Bring your own repair questions to the Ask an Armourer section or the Ask An Armourer Facebook page
Key to Workshop Modules
Information for Fencers and Parents
About the Three Weapons
Items of equipment
Field of Play
eg dimensions/marking ,
PPE (Clothing and Mask)
CEN ratings – Age regulations (table) – mask regs
eg bibs/straps – cleaning
Scoring kit
How boxes work
Spools- do’s and Don’ts
Competition preparation – how Weapon control works
Do’s and don’ts
Fencers toolkit
On Piste Fault Finding
Quick tests for referees & fencers
Maintaining your kit – for Fencers and Parents
Maintenance Tools and Materials
Bodywires
Fencer End and Socket checking, repair
Badge/national strip placement/fixing – FIE regs -repairs
Basic Foil
Taping – Tightening the hilt – Changing screws and springs
Basic Epee
Contact spring – Pressure spring – IGS regs – permitted bend – handle types
Basic Sabre
Hilt components – IGS- insulation – lamés -bend- gloves?
Field of Play Set Up and Take Down – for Volunteers
Field of Play
Physical and electrical safety, tables, taping and tidy wiring, laying and fixing rollout pistes – takedown
Scoring Kit
Types of Boxes
Connections eg Power & RJ45
Wheelchair
Strapping in – Unique kit eg epee skirts
Distance rules
On Piste Skills – for Referees And Fencers
Foil
The White Light problem
Epee
Faults and cures
Scoring equipment
When it stops working
More Advanced Skills – for Club Armourers, Fencers and Supporters
Advanced Tools & Testing
Advanced Bodywire Repairs
Advanced on-piste Fault Finding
(armourer)
Rewires – loose barrels – Makes of barrels and grips- trap hazards
Advanced Epee
Rewires – earthing faults – resistance issues – reshaping guards – FIE regs
Advanced Sabre
Understanding the electrical circuit
Advanced Scoring Kit
Fault Diagnosis
Spool maintenance
Advanced Field of Play
Tower lights, score box connections, testing – laying/lifting metal pistes
Advanced Weapon Control
Understand how to test each item – resistance limits
Expert Armoury Skills
Advanced Wheelchair
Piste design – access safety – frame setup – common issues
Review of score boxes capabilities/matching to competition level – FIE and Olympic set up
Video refereeing technologies
Foil
Epee
Market knowledge of blades, barrels & grips
Sabre
Is there anything Expert in Sabre??
PPE
Scoring Kit
Field of Play
Piste layout planning
Safety and risk assessments
Electrical supply planning
Video Replay
Weapon Control
Equipment – Designing weapon control and call rooms -processes – procedures – records
Wheelchair
comp planning – access safety – volunteer training
Fault Finding