All weapons are composed of the following parts:

1. Blade

   A flexible steel blade; the point of which is blunted. In Foil and Epée it is covered by a button. The blade is nominally separated into two parts:

   The Forte, the half of the blade nearest the guard (the stronger part of the blade).

   The Foible, the half of the blade nearest the point (the weaker part of the blade).

2. Guard

   A convex metal guard between the blade and the hilt (grip), which protects the sword hand. The guard may contain a pad or cushion to reduce the effect of blows.

3. Grip

   A grip within which the tang of the blade is fixed and that enables the fencer to hold the weapon. In the traditional French grip, the hilt is divided into the handle and the pommel, which is used to lock the handle and guard into the sword.

   In the modern Pistol grip the handle is shaped to fit the fencers hand in the on-guard position and is locked to the tang by a nut inside the handle.