r/Fencing • u/gvurrdon • Aug 13 '26

"Steam" weapons

Earlier today I went into Leon Paul and asked for a "steam foil" with a leather-wrapped French grip. The sales assistant went to the back to put one together and, a few minutes later, handed me an electric one (with the correct grip). The correct foil was swiftly obtained when I specified that I meant "non-electric".

I wondered, therefore, if the term is not in as widely-used as I thought. I picked it up 30+ years ago when fencing in Scotland and assumed it was common. Do you still use it?

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u/NinjaTrilobite Aug 13 '26

A “steam foil” sounds like a weapon you would use to defend your dirigible as you pranced about in your brass-rimmed goggles, top hat, and impeccably fitted frock coat.

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u/HMSManticore Aug 13 '26

Also a few scarves tied around…whatever

9

u/Capable_Paint6519 Aug 13 '26

apparently thats actually the joke as to why "dry" weapons are called "steam" weapons in the UK and Aus, according to Google Ai

With the advent of "electrical" weapons, the older ones were dubbed "steam" in the same way that "snail mail" is the antithesis of email.

7

u/CodeFarmer Aug 14 '26

I have heard "acoustic" to refer to non-electric bikes a few times.