Foil vs Epee vs Sabre: Fencing Sword Names Explained

As a coach and foil nerd with 12+ years on the strip, here’s the quick answer most people want: the “fencing sword name” you’re looking for is usually one of three—foil, épée, or sabre. That’s it. Three weapons. Three vibes. Olympic fencing, electric scoring, the whole deal.

In my experience, beginners get stuck on names because fencing sounds fancy. Trust me, it’s simpler than it looks. Foil for precision. Épée for “hit first, ask later.” Sabre for chaos and speed.

So, what are the three swords in modern fencing?

I’ll keep it plain. There are three weapons, each with its own rules:

• Foil: Light, point-only. You score by hitting the torso. It has “right-of-way,” which is a polite way of arguing who started first. Read more if you like rabbit holes: foil.
• Épée: Heavier, point-only. Full body is valid target. No right-of-way. If you both hit, you both score. I call it “honest fencing.” Here’s the deep dive: épée.
• Sabre: Light, fast, point and edge (slash counts). Upper body only. Has right-of-way. Also, sabreurs drink speed for breakfast. Not literally. Usually.

If you’re here trying to remember a fencing weapon name from a movie—no, it was probably a rapier, not an Olympic foil. Historical fencing is a different playground.

How I help people pick a weapon (and how I picked mine)

When I coach, I don’t start with gear. I start with personality. You like rules and tactics? Foil. You like clean logic and zero nonsense? Épée. You like action, fast hands, and chaos? Sabre. That simple.

If you’re drilling footwork and feeling lost, some good coaching tips make picking a lane much easier. I’ve switched athletes from foil to épée mid-season. No drama. Just data.

What each sword “feels” like

• Foil: chess with a buzzer.
• Épée: first to tag wins. Double hits happen. A lot.
• Sabre: sprinting with a blade. Blink and you’re hit.

Quick comparison (snackable)

Parts of the sword (so you can nod like you know things)

Each weapon has a blade, a guard (the bowl-looking thing), a grip (French or pistol), and a tip that triggers the light. In foil and épée, only the tip scores. In sabre, the side of the blade can score too.

Right-of-way scares beginners. It shouldn’t. It just means “the person who started the attack first gets priority.” In foil and sabre, that decides who gets the point when both hits land. In épée, no one cares—both hits count. Clean and brutal.

Training that actually helps

I’ve always found that weapon choice changes your drills. Foil needs timing drills and distance games. Épée needs patience and counterattacks. Sabre needs speed ladders and quick starts. If you want a simple plan, start with footwork and add gear-specific touches later.

And yes, your brain matters as much as your legs. The head game is half the sport. If that’s your jam, this category on sports psychology is a goldmine when bouts get messy.

Conditioning without burning out

What I think is: do a little every day. Fencers love to go way too hard two days before a tournament and then complain. Build steady legs. Build a steady back. Your weapon will thank you.

If you want no-nonsense routines built for athletes (not gym bros), check out these fitness for athletes resources. They translate well to fencing footwork and recovery.

Scoring lights, explained like you’re watching your first bout

Electric scoring is simple. Hit valid target with the right part of the blade, the light turns on. One color for you, one for them. White light in foil means off-target—no point. In épée and sabre, there’s no “off-target.”

Right-of-way only matters when both lights turn on in foil or sabre. The ref decides who had priority. If neither had it, it’s a reset. Fun. Chaotic. Slightly subjective. Welcome to why fencers argue.

Safety and not being dumb

I’ve met exactly zero people who looked cool fencing without a jacket and mask. Also, it’s dangerous. Wear full gear. Warm up before you lunge like a cat with a caffeine problem.

If you’d like fewer pulled hamstrings and angry shoulders, this set of injury prevention guides will save you weeks of downtime. Ask my left knee. It’s seen things.

Buying your first weapon without crying at checkout

Look, start basic. Club or beginner set. Don’t over-optimize grips and blade flex until you can parry without flinching. Foilists: get a pistol grip if your hand is strong; French if you like reach and finesse. Épéeists: blade balance matters more than brand. Sabreurs: comfy mask padding. Trust me.

Also, tournaments are long. You’ll hate life without snacks and water. I keep granola, fruit, and simple carbs. If you care about lasting past pools, read up on smart nutrition moves. It’s not rocket science. It’s salt and timing.

“Wait, did I hear these names in the Olympics?”

Yes. All three weapons are Olympic events, with team and individual brackets. If you want a clean overview that won’t give you a headache, Britannica’s got a solid primer on the sport, but honestly, the quick wiki pages on foil and épée will get you up to speed in minutes.

Common naming mix-ups I hear every season

• “The saber sword.” It’s just “sabre.” The weapon is the sword. You don’t need sword twice.
• “Épée foil.” That’s two different things. Pick one.
• “Rapier equals foil, right?” Nope. That’s historical fencing, not Olympic.
• “The pointy one.” Two of them are point-only. So, helpful but also not.

LSI terms you’ll hear and what they mean (fast)

• Right-of-way: Priority rules in foil/sabre.
• Electric scoring: Wires in your jacket/glove/weapon trigger lights.
• Target area: Where a valid hit counts.
• Parry-riposte: Block, then hit back. The bread and butter.
• Distance: The space where your attack will land. Manage it or lose.

Mini how-to: pick your lane in five checks

• Hate debates? Go épée.
• Love clean attacks and timing games? Foil.
• Want speed, action, and shorter bouts? Sabre.
• Prefer patience over sprinting? Épée again.
• Want to train “clean technique” first? I often start kids in foil. Then we move if needed.

Why I still fence foil (even after flirting with sabre)

I like the puzzle. In foil, I can change distance by half a shoe and win a touch. It’s picky. It rewards small habits. When I’m grumpy, I fence épée and try to make doubles on purpose. When I’m caffeinated, sabre calls my name. Loudly.

If you only remember one thing

The big three are foil, épée, sabre. If someone asks you the “fencing sword name,” say one of those and you’re 90% safe. If they want the historical stuff, that’s another party with different rules and a lot of leather gloves.

By the way, if you’re coaching or self-teaching, I keep a running list of no-fluff coaching tips that work across weapons. Try one new drill a week. Not ten. One.

And if your brain melts mid-bout (it happens), skim a post from sports psychology before finals. You’ll fence calmer. Better choices. Fewer dumb lunges from ten feet away.

Last thing: don’t get hung up on blade models this early. Spend your energy on footwork and form. The rest catches up. Also, if a ref calls right-of-way against you, smile and fix it next touch. Or at least look like you meant to do that. The classic move.

FAQs

• What’s the actual name of the fencing swords?

  Foil, épée, and sabre—those are the three, and each one has different rules and target areas.

• Which weapon should I start with as a beginner?

  Start with foil if you want strong basics, épée if you hate debates, or sabre if you love speed and short bouts.

• Is épée really the “whole body” one?

  Yep. Toes to mask, all valid. No right-of-way. Doubles happen all the time.

• Why do people argue about right-of-way?

  Because it’s a judgment call in foil and sabre, and tiny details matter—like who started, who finished, and who flailed first.

• Is the “fencing sword name” the same in the Olympics?

  Yes—Olympic events use foil, épée, and sabre. Same names, different athletes, more cameras.

Benjamin Clark

I’m Benjamin Clark, dedicated to elevating your athletic performance. Get targeted fitness plans, injury prevention techniques, sports psychology insights, and the latest in nutrition. Let’s train smarter.