Fencing gear

Fencing gear comes in two categories – non-FIE and FIE. FIE is the gear approved by the International Fencing Federation as the highest in protection and quality and is required at some levels of competition.

Fencers should also be aware of the various equipment policies:
FIE
AFF
NSWFA ​​
NSW schools

Protective gear – mask, jacket, plastron, breeches, glove and chest guard

• non-FIE (Level 1) (350N plastron*, jacket, breeches, glove and mask) – suitable for club training and some competitions
• FIE (Level 2) (800N plastron, jacket, breeches and glove; 1600N mask) – required for state and higher level competitions. MFC mandates an FIE plastron for all fencers, and recommends FIE gear for all fencers considering competing in any competitions above club level.
• FIE rules state that chest guards must be worn by all female fencers. MFC recommends that anyone who wants to should wear a chest guard, regardless of gender, weapon or age. Chest guards must be worn by all Sword Play and Sword Skills fencers at MFC.

Weapons

• non-FIE weapons – suitable for club training and some competitions
• FIE weapons – required for national level and higher competitions
• at the club we use blade size 3 for ages 13 years and under
• at the club we use blade size 5 for 14+ years.

Club gear

The Club provides all gear for members to use at training, although we do ask that you buy a mask and glove if possible, to minimise gear sharing for COVIDSafe training.

Buying gear

Club members can order direct from the Club's supplier in China (log in to see the info in the Shop tab of this website). Other suppliers include Leon Paul Australia, Allstar Australia, Absolute Fencing and local suppliers in Sydney JG Fencing, Swordsplay and Sydney Sabre. Chest guards can also be ordered from QP Sport.

For fencers wanting to compete in NSWFA competitions, please note their equipment standards here as a guide to which gear you should buy. For most fencers this will mean FIE gear for all items.

For sabre fencers wanting to buy a weapon, please note that maraging steel blades required for higher level competitions will need to bear the FIE stamp after 2021. This means that if you buy a maraging steel or S2000 blade, it won't be able to be used in those comps after 2021 as it won't bear the FIE stamp. Further details here. (Update 2023: NB that this rule doesn't seem to have come into effect in Australia yet.)

From our supplier in China a complete set of gear costs approximately:

• chest guard $20
• uniform: 3-piece FIE uniform (breeches, plastron, jacket) $240, OR 800N plastron $60, 350N (non-FIE) breeches $45 and jacket $55
• glove $15
• mask: FIE mask $150, OR 350N (non-FIE) mask $60 (both costs approx, depending on weapon and options such as removabe lining)
• bodywire $10 (two are needed for competing)
• (mask wire for sabre and foil, $5, two are needed for competing)
• non-FIE weapon $45 (two are needed for competing, although for national level comps FIE weapons will be needed. FIE weapons are approx $350–$400 each, and are not available from our supplier in China, but can be bought from the other suppliers listed above)
• lame (foil $60, sabre $90)
• socks $8
• bag $60–$180 (basic, wheeled, or jumbo wheeled)

(Costs vary depending on exchange rate and freight cost per kg.)

Epee gear

1. Epee mask
2. Jacket
3. Epee bodywire
4. Plastron
5. Glove
6. Electric epee
7. Chest guard
8. Breeches
9. Socks

For club training and competing, all items are used.

 

Foil gear

1. Foil mask
2. Jacket
3. Foil bodywire
4. Plastron
5. Glove
6. Electric foil
7. Chest guard
8. Breeches
9. Socks
10. Mask wire
11. Foil lamé

For club training for Sword Skills and Open teams, items 1–7 and 11 are used. 8 and 9 must be used by Open team and is strongly recommended for Sword Skills. For competing, add item 10. (Epee masks are also fine to use for club training in foil.)

 

Sabre gear

1. Sabre mask
2. Jacket
3. Sabre bodywire
4. Plastron
5. Glove
6. Electric sabre
7. Chest guard
8. Breeches
9. Socks
10. Mask wire
11. Sabre lamé
12. Sabre cuff

For club training, items 1–7 and 10–12 are used, and 8 and 9 are strongly recommended.