The Sabre
Descended from the duelling sabres of the late 19th century, which were in turn descended from naval and cavalry swords, sabres have a knuckle guard. Hits can be scored with either the point or the edge of the blade anywhere above the opponent's waist. Sabre technique emphasises speed, feints, and strong offence. While the speed of sabre often makes fights difficult to follow, if you focus on who starts an action (who has "right of way"), the lively exchanges will soon begin to make sense.
Foil, epee and sabre are the three weapons used in the sport of Fencing, in which both men and women compete. The target areas, as well as the blade, differ for the three types of weapons.
