Description

Designed by Maestro Aurelio Greco in 1907

When designing the Classical Italian Epee we had no better choice than Maestro Aurelio Greco’s 1907 design. Aurelio Greco and his brother Maestro Agesilao Greco were the pioneers of a singular Italian epee system independent from foil fencing. Maestro Greco detailed the construction of his preferred epee in his text La Spada E La Sua Applicazione. The design features an offset crossbar and guard to better protect the hand’s outside. We copied this design exactly to specification with a brand new guard and crossbar. We studied and examined surviving antique weapons and catalogs to extrapolate other dimensions. The Classical Italian Epee is beautiful, functional, and dependable.

Greco, 1907 Benjamin Arms’ Classical Italian Epee Blade: 35” √ √ Hemispherical Guard √ √ Guard Diameter: 13cm √ √ Guard Depth: 6cm √ √ Offset Blade: 1cm √ √ Crossbar Inset: 1cm √ √ Threaded Pommel √ √

Training with a Point d’Arret

Our Classical Italian Epee has a point d’arret attached to the point of the blade. A point d’arret is a small crown of three protruding teeth attached to the blade’s nail head with waxed thread. They simulate a sharp point by latching onto the fabric of the jacket and lead arm. Point d’arrets have been mentioned and recommended by many fencing masters since the 19th century. Using point d’arrets gently remind fencers of the purpose and consequence of wielding sharpened swords.

True Ricasso or False Ricasso?

The ricasso is the portion of blade between the guard and crossbar which the Italian fencer grips directly. We build our Classical Italian Epee with a true ricasso or false ricasso. A false ricasso mounts tightly on a French-tang blade to imitate a ricasso. Italian fencing masters assert the ricasso allows Italian fencers to feel the actions on the sword better than their contemporaries the French, Spanish, etc. It’s therefore figured that a false ricasso stifles this benefit. While we absolutely recommend the true ricasso configuration for it’s historical accuracy, we don’t believe false ricassos diminish a fencer’s sensitivity to the sword. History demonstrates through it’s many masters that a ricasso is not required to be a successful, effective, or competitive fencer. We utilize false ricassos to offer the versatility to mount a variety of blades.

*Note: Above photos are of the true ricasso type unless noted in top left corner*

Ricasso Length Blade Length Benefits Drawbacks True Ricasso 1.75″ ~35.25” True ricasso more historically accurate More fitting required for replacement blade False Ricasso 1.75″ 35” Blade replaceable with French-tang blade; false ricasso can be removed to use true ricasso blade Thicker than true ricasso; slight added weight

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 epee for consistent and reliable use.

Italian Epee Sizing

Italian epees were not sized to the fencer as much as French weaponry. The Classical Italian Epee does not come in any other sizes than those specified by Aurelio Greco in 1907. The sword’s offset guard and crossbar is built in right or left handed orientations.

Specifications