épée

Épée is a fencing sword used in the sport of fencing. It is one of the three weapons in modern competitive fencing, alongside foil and sabre. The épée is designed for thrusting, with a stiff, triangular blade and a large guard to protect the hand. It is the heaviest of the three weapons, and its blade is built to withstand frequent contact during bouts.

Design and equipment: The blade is typically the full weapon length, with a thick, rectangular cross-section and a blunt tip that carries sensors to register touches. The guard encircles the hand, and grips range from straight to pistol shapes. The épée is equipped for electronic scoring, which detects valid touches through the tip.

Target and scoring: The entire body from head to toe is a valid target; touches are scored only with the tip of the blade. There is no right-of-way principle, so two fencers can score a point simultaneously in a single exchange. Modern competitions use electronic scoring equipment to detect touches and determine valid hits.

History and use: The épée evolved from civilian dueling swords and was standardized in the late 19th century for sport. It has been part of the Olympic program since the early 1900s and remains a staple of international fencing competitions under the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

Technique and strategy: Épée fencing emphasizes timing, distance, and patience, with emphasis on parries, counterattacks, and feints. Because there is no priority, control of the action often depends on a fencer’s ability to threaten the blade’s end and to exploit openings across the whole body.