Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29
MORE FENCERS THAN EVER.
A Great Variety of Goods Made Here
or Imported for Their Use.

From the New York Sun.
Fencing goods said dealer in such
articles, ARE imported, some from France,
but the greater part from Germany. The
foil made with blade thirty-two inches
in length for beginners. regulation length
being thrty-four, is made in very great
variety to details and manner of finish.
including foils designed especially for wo-
mems use. There are two familiar standard
kinds of guards for the foil, the figures
guard and the bell guard. These mount
iEgs are of iron of steel and of brass, some
polished and some nickel-plated and some
times engraved and gilded, the open guards
being faced with leather of one kind and
another, including elk skin.
THE foil handles are produced in great
variety, not only as to shape, but as to the
materials used in them. They are covered
with leather Of various kinds, including
shark skin. Some are covered with velvet.
some with plush and some with wire. The
handles are corded. or wire wound, those Of
the costier foils with silver with gold
wire. AS to the shapes of the handles they
are many; teachers of the various schools
Of fencing might prefer one this shape and
another that, and individual fencers have
their preferences, and, of course, men want
handles suited to their hands
'"The foil blades are made in lighter and
in heavier weights, in various grades and
in gre at variety to finish, some polished
and some blued, and blades are etched and
engraved, and gilded. Foils are sold, not
only for use in fencing. but for decoration
purposes; some Of the finest and most hand
somely finished fois, variousiy ornamented,
are put to such uses, and such foils are
bought for presentation. Foils are. OF
course produced at great variety Of
prices They are sold in pairs.
Then there are sold rapiers and fencing
swords in variety Of styles. There are
sold wooden broadswords for beginners in
swcrd exercise, and there are also sold, for
fencing practice and for exercise single
sticks, OF fencing sticks these being of
wood, somewhat shorter and lighter and
also cheaper than foils and having basket
hits.
while the foils and rapiers and swords
are imported, almost all Of the other fenc-
ing goods are made in this country. There
are various kinds OF fencing masks, In
GLIDING masks for foils, masks for stick and
sword practice and masks for sword and
rarier practice, these being severally adapt
ed to their special uses and made, besides,
each in some variety as to details Of con-
struction and manner Of finish. Then there
are, of course. fencing gloves for men and
for women, for use with the foils and for
sword and rapier fencing. Then there are
plastic made for the protection of the
chest while fencing, these being of chamois
skim padded and quilted, and there are
made p!astrons for women, these being Of
plush and padded and quilted and made
to fit.
There Is a fencing vest and Jacket for
foil fencing made of channels skin. padded
and quilted, and there are for foil fencing
Jackets made of heavy linen. There are for
sword or rapier exercise fencing jackets
made Of heavy duck and padded and quilt
ed, and there are fencing belts and fencing
slippers.
''There are more fencers in this country
now than ever before, including more wo-
men fencers than ever. and the number of
fencers Is all the time growing. Fencing is.
OF course, largely confined to cities and
towns. but there are fencers all over the
country. We sell fencing goods from New
York to San Francisco and from st. Paul to
New Orleans"