Why are there 3 weapons in European style fencing?
The three weapons are epee, foil and saber. Each has unique properties and histories. The epee is the final evolution of the rapier. This was the dueling weapon used to settle disagreements and matters of honor centuries ago. Dueling was popular and nobles would almost certainly be required to fight a duel at least once in their lives. To practice for the duel the foil was developed. The foil was a thin, flexible instructional weapon that could be held comfortably for the entire lesson. The lightweight nature of the foil also allowed for “fencing theory” to develop. In advanced lessons it was possible to teach complicated maneuvers that would not be possible with a heavy rapier blade. The saber is a reengineering of the scimitar, the middle-eastern sword. Crusaders brought the scimitar back to Europe when they discovered that the scimitar was a good weapon to use on horseback. The saber is the only “cutting” weapon of the three. Entire armies of men could be taught to use the saber wit
