Foil, epee or sabre: each weapon's own kit.

Before buying a weapon

This guide says what the rules require of each weapon and its kit. It does not say any weapon or blade is homologated, safe or legal: the FIE's homologation decides at FIE events, the national body below that, and weapon control checks it on the day. It does not describe assembling, mounting, wiring, straightening or testing a weapon; those belong with a qualified armourer. The weapon rules are on foil, epee and sabre, and any weapon's measurements can be compared with its own FIE limits in the weapon spec checker.

Foil

The rules in brief (FIE Technical Rules, December 2024 edition): a thrusting weapon only (t.76.1); the target is the trunk, plus the mask bib below a line 1.5 to 2 cm under the chin (t.77.1); priority conventions decide double touches (t.82 to t.89); an off-target hit stops the phrase (t.78).

• The weapon (Material Rules, August 2026): weight under 500 g ready for use (m.6); total length at most 110 cm (m.7); blade at most 90 cm, rectangular in section (m.8.1, m.8.4); guard 9.5 to 12 cm in diameter (m.9).
• The mask: insulated mesh and a conductive lower bib, because the bib is foil target (m.27.1, m.27.2).
• Glove and chest protector: the foil glove may be slightly padded (m.26); a chest protector, compulsory for women, is worn under the plastron with a 4 mm soft EVA cover at foil (m.25.4.c).
• Electric foil adds a conductive lame covering the valid target and a mask wire (m.27.3, m.28); see the electric fencing kit guide.

Epee

The rules in brief: a thrusting weapon only (t.90.1); the whole body, clothing and equipment are target (t.91); there is no priority, and a double hit counts against both fencers (t.92).

• The weapon: weight under 770 g ready for use (m.14); total length at most 110 cm (m.15); blade at most 90 cm, triangular in section, no side wider than 24 mm (m.16.1, m.16.3, m.16.4); guard passing a 13.5 cm gauge, 3 to 5.5 cm deep (m.17.1).
• The mask: no conductive covering, and the bib reaches below the collar bones (m.30.1, m.30.2). Foil and sabre masks cannot be used at epee (British Fencing, FIE and EFC guidance, 13 March 2026; USA Fencing Athlete Handbook 2026-2027).
• Jacket, legs and feet: no lame at epee; the jacket covers the whole trunk (m.25.4.b). The legs are epee target, and in lessons and classes British Fencing allows them as target only if the pupil wears at least 350 N breeches and long socks (Safety Guidelines, 23rd edition, 4.4.2).

Sabre

The rules in brief: hits with the point, the cutting edge, the flat or the back of the blade count (t.96.1, t.96.2); the target is everything above a line between the tops of the hip bones (t.97.2); priority conventions apply (t.100); the fleche is forbidden (t.101.5).

• The weapon: weight under 500 g ready for use (m.22); total length at most 105 cm (m.21); blade at most 88 cm (m.23.1); a full one-piece guard passing a 15 cm by 14 cm gauge (m.24.1, m.24.2); no spring tip (m.24.4).
• The glove: 800N on the areas the rule shows, seams at least 200N, cuff 350N, with an FIE label stating 800N (m.33.1). USA Fencing requires an 800 N glove at every level, and British Fencing a glove with the FIE 800N label.
• The mask: conducting mesh and a conductive bib, because the head is target (m.32.1 to m.32.3).
• Electric sabre adds a conductive jacket covering the arms to the wrists (m.34.1) and a mask wire (m.32.4).

Blades: maraging steel, by body

The FIE Material Rules (August 2026) make maraging steel blades obligatory at all three weapons (m.2.1). Below FIE level the rule differs: British Fencing's Domestic Variations (6 December 2023) say FIE-homologated maraging blades are not required for any weapon at domestic events, and the word "maraging" appears in USA Fencing's October 2026 rulebook only in an Appendix A note on epee blades, not in its m.2. When the FIE requirement began differs by weapon and by source:

• Epee: an FIE application note, reproduced in USA Fencing's rules, says non-maraging epee blades were not accepted for homologation after 1 January 2014, nor in FIE competitions from 31 December 2015.
• Sabre: British Fencing's summary of 7 January 2020 says the requirement applied from the 2020-2021 season; the FIE's July 2020 Material Rules note says it was postponed to September 2021, with both kinds allowed until 31 August 2021. British Fencing says sabre blades stamped only "M" were accepted until September 2022.
• Foil: no FIE document dating the requirement was found.

British Fencing's Safety Guidelines (23rd edition, 2.1 and 2.2) state that almost all serious fencing injuries are caused by penetration by a broken blade and advise considering blades of special steel such as maraging steel. That is British Fencing's statement; no blade is presented here as unbreakable or as preventing injury. British Fencing lists a 24th edition of its Safety Guidelines, Board approved in September 2026, which could not be read; the section numbers on this page are from the 23rd. More is on blades and maraging steel.

Grips, as the rules describe them

The FIE text names no grip models. It allows any handle that conforms, requires an orthopaedic handle or glove that fixes the hand to allow one position only, with the extended thumb tip within 2 cm of the inside of the guard, and at epee forbids covering orthopaedic handles with leather or anything that could hide wires or switches (m.4.2, m.4.3, m.4.6). Wikipedia (secondary) says foil and epee use either the French grip or the pistol (orthopaedic) grip, and that sabre has a single grip type. The FIE's SEMI Commission put a review of the epee French and orthopaedic handle rule on its agenda in July 2025. Grip choice and fitting are for a coach in person.

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