Improvements in Foils and Swords.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
Improvements in Foils and Swords.
I, HENRI GOUPILLE; of 139 Rue de Port de Bercy, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Wine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My present invention has for its object a novel method of constructing swords
and fencing foils, by which the ordinary shank or tang of the blade (or that part
which passes through the guard and the handle, and is fixed in the pommel) is not
required; the handle is constructed of metal, the guard and pommel forming part
of it; and the blade is held in place by a screw in the guard or handle, or in a
special socket. The weapon made as described is very strong and substantial,
whilst the blade is interchangeable when desired.
In order to put my invention in operation, I use a blade of the usual kind, but
without the ordinary shank or tang, its back end terminating instead in a bar about
4 to 6 centimetres long and rectangular in cross section, which fits exactly in the
inside of the handle, into which it is fixed by a tempered steel screw or pin, or å
spring catch or the like, the point of which fits firmly against the shank of the
blade, or into a recess in the latter.
The handle consists of a tube of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, rectangular
in transverse section, which carries the rectangular shank of the blade already..
described, the guard, and the pommel.
The guard is brazed upon the handle, and is provided with a hole into which is
screwed a fine threaded screw which holds the blade in position.
Or, in what is known as the Italian foil, the screw is screwed through a projection
formed upon the front of the guard.
The pommel is of the ordinary shape, of steel, copper, iron, or other suitable
metal, fixed upon the outer end of the handle by soldering, brazing, or screwing.
The invention, as above described, is applicable to foils and swords of all kinds.
The shank of the blade may be fixed more firmly in the handle, by arranging
inside the latter projections against which the shauk fits. For instance, a plate
bent to the form of two adjoining sides of the rectangular tube which forms the
handle may be fitted into the latter and its position regulated by a screwed rod or
wire screwed into a block at its outer end, the other end of the wire being fixed to
a loose piece which can be revolved in the pommel.
The inside of the front part of the handle is provided on one side with a small
projection, and on the opposite side with an inclined plane, so that if the blade is
fitted in position and the bent plate forced forward by turning the screw, the blade
is firmly and securely held, whilst the projection on the inside of the handle is forced
into a corresponding notch or recess in the corresponding side of the blade.
Dated this 16th day of March 1895.

page_text: On words.
1, HENRI GOUPILLE, of 139, Rue de Port de Bercy, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Wine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
.
My present invention has for its object a novel method of constructing swords
and fencing foils, by which the ordinary shank or tang of the blade (or that part
which passes through the guard and the handle, and is fixed in the pommel) is not
required; the handle is constructed of metal, the guard and pommel forming part
of it; and the blade is held in place, by a screw in the guard or handle, or in a
special socket. The weapon made as described is very strong and substantial,
whilst the blade is interchangeable, when desired.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention.
In order to put my invention in operation, I use a blade (shewn in Figure 1,
broken off) of the usual kind, (but without the ordinary shank or tang passing
through the handle), its back end terminating instead in a bar or enlargement a
about 4 to 6 centimètres long and rectangular in cross section, which fits exactly in
the inside of the handle, into which it is fixed by a tempered steel screw or pin, or
a spring catch or the like, the point of which fits firmly against the shank of the
blade, or into a recess in the latter.
The handle 6 (Figure 2) consists of a tube of iron, steel, or other suitable metal,.
rectangular in transverse section, which carries the rectangular shank of the bladė
already described, the guard, and the pommel.
The guard (Figures 3 and 4) is brazed upon the handle, and is provided
at c with a hole into which is screwed a fine threaded screw d which holds the
blade in position.
Or, in what is known as the Italian foil, (Figure 4) the screw is screwed through
a projection e formed upon the front of the guard.
The pommel (Figure 2) is of the ordinary shape, of steel, copper, iron, or other
suitable metal, fixed upon the outer end of the handle by soldering, brazing, or
screwing.
•
The invention, as above described, is applicable to foils and swords of all kinds.
The shank of the blade may be fixed more firmly in the handle, by arranging
inside the latter projections against which the shank fits.
illustrated in Figures 6 and 7), a plate g is shewn bent to the form of two sides of
For instance, (as
the rectangular tube which forms the handle and fitted into the latter and its
position regulated by a screwed rod or wire h screwed into a block i at its outer
end, the other end of the wire being fixed to a loose piece which can be revolved in
the pommel.
The inside of the front part of the handle is provided on one side with a small
projection at k, and on the opposite side with an inclined plane, so that if the blade
is fitted in position and the bent plate forced forward by turning the screw, the
blade is firmly and securely held, whilst the projection at k on the inside of the
handle is forced into a corresponding notch or recess in the corresponding side of
the blade, which is therefore held perfectly firm.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of construction, by which the ordinary tang passing through the
handle is dispensed with.

page_text: 2. The blade made in a single piece, easily fixed but capable of being readily
removed.
3. The handle formed of a metallic tube, to which the guard and pommel are
attached so as to form part of it,
All substantially as described and illustrated..
Dated this 16th day of December 1895.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.