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This page explains what governing bodies, standards bodies and researchers publish. It is not a substitute for lessons from a qualified coach, for a qualified armourer's checks or for medical advice.
A description, not a workshop guide
This guide reports what the rules require of electric kit. It contains no wiring, assembly, repair or testing instructions, which belong with a qualified armourer, and it does not say any lame, cord, box or weapon is homologated or legal: the FIE's homologation, the national rule and the officials at weapon control decide. Under the FIE Technical Rules (December 2024 edition), all competitions are judged with an electrical apparatus, and the referee may not award a hit it has not properly registered, apart from listed exceptions (t.54.1, t.54.2). No electric kit is presented as preventing injury.
What each weapon adds
| Foil | Epee | Sabre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How a hit registers (Annexe B) | A permanent current is broken when the tip is pressed | Pressing the tip closes the circuit between the epee's two wires | Contact between any uninsulated part of the sabre and the opponent's conductive jacket, glove or mask |
| Electric weapon | Single wire in a groove to the guard socket (m.10); more than 500 g of pressure needed to register (m.11.3) | Two wires in the groove plus an earth (m.18.1); more than 750 g of pressure needed (m.19.2) | No spring tip (m.24.4); guard insulated inside and for 7 to 8 cm outside by the pommel (m.24.5 to m.24.7) |
| Lame (conductive jacket) | Covers the whole valid target on guard, with a collar at least 3 cm high and a flap for the mask clip; insulated inside (m.28.1, m.28.3, m.28.4) | None: the whole body is target | Covers everything above the hip line and the arms to the wrists, with sleeves held at the wrist (m.34.1, m.34.2, m.34.5) |
| Mask | Conductive lower bib, mask wire to the lame (m.27.2, m.27.3) | No conductive covering (m.30.1) | Conducting mesh and bib, mask wire to the lame (m.32.1 to m.32.4) |
| Glove | Ordinary fencing glove (m.25.6, m.26) | Ordinary fencing glove (m.25.6) | Gauntlet covered in conductive material below the wrist bone (m.33.1, m.33.2) |
Lames: foil and sabre only
Lame cloth has conductive thread in warp and weft, with no more than 5 ohms between any two points, and a lame with holes, oxidation patches or other defects that could stop a valid hit registering may not be used (m.28.5, m.34.4). At foil the band between the legs must be non-conductive and at least 3 cm wide (m.28.7). USA Fencing's Athlete Handbook 2026-2027 (2.17.1) says foil and sabre lames must have a croissard (groin strap). At official FIE competitions a fencer may present at most two lames for checking, and one judged unusable is marked with very visible paint (m.38.1, m.38.8). A foil lame and a sabre lame cover different areas, each under its own article (m.28.1, m.34.1).
Body cords and mask cords
- Body cords (bodywires): under the FIE rules they have a transparent plug at each end, and a device against unplugging where the weapon has none (m.29.1.b, m.31.2, m.35). British Fencing's summary of 7 January 2020 says transparent plugs became compulsory for all from the 2020-2021 season. Its Domestic Variations (6 December 2023) say they are not required at British domestic events, where bayonet plugs are permitted. A fencer may present at most three bodywires at FIE weapon control (m.38.1).
- Mask cords: at foil and sabre only, white or clear covered, 30 to 40 cm long, with crocodile clips; coiled wires are not allowed (m.27.3, m.32.4). The FIE's 2009 homologation handbook allowed a 40 to 45 cm foil wire or a coiled cable 25 cm long at rest; the August 2026 rule allows neither.
Points, checks and responsibility
At foil and epee only traditional or homologated points are accepted at FIE events (m.5.5.a); USA Fencing's rules do not require the point to be homologated (note to m.5.5). The FIE sets maximum resistances of 2 ohms at foil and epee and 1 ohm at sabre (m.5.4.a). At official FIE competitions fencers are responsible for their own equipment on the piste, and a check does not excuse a breach (m.37.1, m.37.3); checked items are marked, and using unmarked equipment brings penalties (m.41.1). Equipment arranged so a fencer can control hit registration may bring a penalty against whoever presented it (m.39).
Scoring boxes and testers
The FIE authorises only wired apparatus showing hits by lights with sound, or wireless apparatus using encoded waves authorised by its SEMI commission (m.45). Apparatus for a World Championships or Olympic Games is approved for one competition and one design, not as a general approval of a maker's products (m.46 to m.48). Those approval rules are written for FIE competitions; below FIE level the organiser's rules apply. The tester category picked below relates to limits such as the tip pressures and resistances above, but how equipment is tested is not described on this site: at FIE events checking is supervised by the SEMI at World Championships and Olympic fencing, and done by the people the organising committee appoints at other official FIE competitions (m.36, m.37.5).
Young fencers and wheelchair fencing
British Fencing announced on 1 July 2026 that under-14s using size 2 or 3 electric blades in club sparring now need breeches. In wheelchair epee, earthed lame aprons cover the areas that are not target (IWAS Technical Rules, January 2018, t.63), and the 2018 Material Rules Amendments allow an extra lead with a clip to the bodywire's earth to keep contact with the apron (m.31.3.c).
Our picks by category
Foil lames
Conductive jackets covering the foil target. Not used at epee. The FIE bars lames with holes or oxidation patches that could stop a valid hit registering (m.28.5). Sizing is not covered here.
Best for: Electric foil fencers
Sabre lames
Conductive jackets covering the sabre target, arms included (m.34.1). Pair with a conductive sabre mask and an 800N sabre glove.
Best for: Electric sabre fencers
Body cords
Bodywires linking weapon to spool. Transparent plugs at both ends are required at FIE events, not at British domestic events. Check the plug type your weapon and club use; wiring is not described here.
Best for: Every electric fencer, at all three weapons
Mask cords
Mask-to-lame leads, 30 to 40 cm and not coiled at FIE events (m.27.3, m.32.4).
Best for: Electric foil and sabre fencers
Scoring boxes
Scoring apparatus for club and home use. FIE approval is given for its own competitions (m.46 to m.48); below FIE level the organiser's rules apply. Each weapon registers differently, so check the box covers the weapon fenced.
Best for: Clubs and fencers practising electric bouts outside competitions
Equipment testers
Testers for weights and electrics. The FIE limits they relate to are above; testing procedures are not described on this site and belong with a qualified armourer and the officials.
Best for: Fencers and clubs whose armourer uses them
Sources
- FIE, Rules for Competitions, Book 3, Material Rules (edition dated August 2026), m.5, m.10 to m.13, m.18, m.19, m.24, m.27 to m.29, m.31 to m.48 and Annexe B
- FIE, Technical Rules (December 2024 edition, copy published by the German Fencing Federation), t.54
- FIE, Technical Handbook for Homologation / Approval of Fencing Equipment, Version 1.0 (August 2009)
- British Fencing, 2020 FIE Rules: Summary of Changes (7 January 2020)
- British Fencing, Domestic Variations from FIE Rules (updated 6 December 2023)
- British Fencing, Safety Guidelines news: main 2026 change (1 July 2026)
- USA Fencing, Rules for Competition (October 2026)
- USA Fencing, Athlete Handbook 2026-2027, 2.17.1
- IWAS Wheelchair Fencing, Rules for Competition, Book 1, Technical Rules (January 2018; copy hosted by the Brazilian fencing confederation)
- Wheelchair Fencing Material Rules Amendments, January 2018 (copy hosted by the Brazilian fencing confederation)