Description

Maître d’Arms Lucien Mérignac Foil

The Mérignac Foil is a tribute Maître d’Arms Lucien Mérignac, born in 1873 and died in 1941 at age 67. His fencing career helped end the rumors that French fencing was purely academic as he was an efficient, competitive, and dangerous fencer. He competed in the 1900 summer Olympic games and famously defeated fellow Frenchman Alphonse Kirchhoffer to win the gold medal in the master’s bracket. One notable assault was published in a 1906 New York Times article where Mérignac defeated Giuseppe Galante in the best of eight bouts:

“The Italian champion, though a splendid fencer, was clearly no match for him [Mérignac]. He lacked the Frenchman’s poise, his control, and his wonderful steadiness and endurance. It almost seemed that Mérignac, when aroused, could touch his opponent when he pleased.” New York Times, February 28, 1906.

Opposition System of Fencing

The guard on the Mérignac Foil facilitates strong opposition not easily escaped from. We’ve slightly lessened the cant granting these benefits in the smallest, most subtle motions. These conservative opposition actions are then more threatening by a long #4 or #5 blade. The Mérignac Foil performs the repertoire of opposition techniques sturdily and efficiently and owes its design to Monsieur Mérignac. Souzy de Lacam, Joseph Vince Fencing Equipment and Castello Equipment Co. all copied his design and sold Mérignac guards and foils.

Traditional Construction

Benjamin Arms builds all weapons to exacting specifications determined by the desired handling characteristics, school of fencing, and aesthetic tastes. We hand-carve shock-absorbing wood for the grip’s core to diminish vibrations from the blade into the hand. Each hand-fit component make a strong and durable foil for consistent and reliable use.

French FOil Sizing

French foils are built proportionately to the user but also to fit particular training methodology. Since the Mérignac Foil is best with a long blade, the blade choices are fixed at longer lengths. The grip, however, may be customized to the user’s hand size. Always consult your instructor for their recommendation for your blade and grip size. We give our recommendations below. To measure for grip length, measure the hand from the tip of the index finger to the first crease of the wrist.

Hand Length (in.)	6.00	6.50	7.00	7.50	8.00	8 +
Grip Length (in.)	4.75	5.00	5.25	5.50	5.75	5.75
Fencer’s Height (in.)	< 65	65+
Blade Length (in.)	34 (#4)	35 (#5)

Specifications

• Left or right hand canted
• #5 or #4 length blade with leather & cord button
• Steel Mérignac guard (3.75 H x 2.625 W)
• Black leather finger pad with premium felt face
• Variable length wood grip wrapped with hardened cord and dyed black
• Steel grip ferrule (end-cap) matching pommel diameter
• Machined conical pommel with 6x1mm threading
• AHF tournament compliant