Modern fencing has its roots in the historical traditions of swordsmanship. Two opponents contest an assault or bout using one of three weapons: foil, épée, or sabre.

The fencing area must be flat and evenly lit and may be indoors or outdoors. Various surfaces are permitted: wood, linoleum, rubber, plastic and metallic mesh.
The width of the piste is constant, its length is 14m with 2m each end run off.

All weapons have a flexible steel blade and foils and épées have a button at the end, a hilt by which to hold the weapon, and a guard. A martingale is obligatory for foil and épée when no electric equipment is used.
In foil and épée (thrust weapons) hits can only be made with the point. The sabre can be cut and thrust, scoring with all of the front edge and the top third of the back edge.

The foil must weigh less than 500g. The blade should measure 110cm. In an electric foil, a hit must register only if the pressure on the point exceeds 500g.

The épée must weigh less than 770g. The blade must be as straight as possible. In an electric épée, a hit must register only if the pressure on the point is more than 750g.

The sabre must weigh less than 500g. The blade must not be too rigid nor too flexible. Any curve must be continuous, of less than 4cm, and not in the direction of the cutting edge.

http://www.fencing.org.nz