Fencing Tips from Lady Catalina dell'Acqua
1) When I first started fencing, I was a poor just-out-of-college research fellow. If you can't sew well, like me, a doublet is not easy to make, regardless of what people tell you. For the first year I fenced, I used a long T-tunic, with a short sleeved, short tunic underneath. (Make sure it passes the punch test and armor requirements for your kingdom.) I know a lot of people who started fencing in T-tunics, because they are easy and fairly cheap to make. Sometimes a modern T-shirt is enough underneath.
2) Loaner gear is your friend. Depending on the local practices, they may have enough loaner gear to let you use it for a while. But you should try to get your own stuff as soon as possible.
3) Buy your blade first. I waited for a year before getting my own armor, but my blade was in my hand months after I started fencing (and decided I liked it). If you decide you really like fencing and want to stick with it, buying a blade sooner will allow you to get used to it, since everyone balances their blade differently. It will make authorizing that much easier. Besides, most practices have loaner armor, but very few have loaner weapons, and you will have to borrow someone else's sword all the time. For epees, American fencer has a good epee with a period looking guard for about $100. Triplette has one for about $80 or so.
4) Gloves and mask should be your next purchase. There is nothing worse than fighting with gloves that don't fit right. Buy gardening or welding gloves and sew a gauntlet on the wrist of either thin leather or brocade. It doesn't take much fabric to extend the glove. Triplette also sells a good, inexpensive leather glove for $20.
5) If you decide that you absolutely MUST have a full set to fence in, Triplette sells a great starter set. It includes a mask, tunic, gloves and weapon (epee or schlager). Depending on the weapon you get, it will be about $200 (give or take about $20). Fairly expensive, but you get everything you need to start fighting right away, and it is yours (gorgets and hoods are sold seperately). The tunics can be spiffed up with trim or something.
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