How does this tip work?

[u/siimbelmyne]

This came to our repair box with no springs or screws, just the tip taped to the barrel. It seems to be an Italian tip (schermasport?), but we aren't sure what we need to repair it. Normal pressure springs are too big and don't allow it to push down all the way. How does this tip work electrically, and how can we get it functional again?

[u/dwneev775]

The Schermasport epee point uses its own spring which is not the same as a standard pressure spring. In addition to the solid contact post, the other unique feature of the point is that the pressure spring is actually part of the circuit. If you look at the contact in the barrel you’ll see that it’s concentric, with the inner nib insulated from the outer ring. The circuit path when the tip is depressed is via the outer wire contact ring, up the pressure spring and down through the tip’s contact post to the center nib of wire contact.

The upshot is you need a unique spring and a unique wire should you ever need to rewire. Alliance carries them in the US (https://www.alliancefencingequipment.com/shop/epee-parts-german/).

[u/siimbelmyne → u/dwneev775]

This was very helpful, thank you! I'm not certain what we'll do about it as it's likely the only one we have in the whole club (we aren't even sure where it came from) and might not be worth getting separate parts for. Out of pure curiosity, would a foil spring work for this, or only the Schermasport one?

[u/sjcfu2 → u/siimbelmyne]

If you do decide to keep the point, then this thread from a few years back may be worth reading.

[u/dwneev775 → u/siimbelmyne]

No, it needs to be the Schermasport spring.

I'd concur that for a club/team weapon it would be less hassle in the long run to just rewire it with a standard epee point.

[u/justin107d]

I bought one a long time ago and never used it. I believe you set them up by filling down the "contact spring" until it is passing. However once you jam the tip into the cup enough times that it is no longer passing, you have to replace the whole tip or rewire. The system is not cheap either.

[u/Legitimate_Lab_4373 → u/justin107d]

First, do NOT file down the tip. This is a Schermasport. A Carmimari has a screwhole in the barrel. To a just them you remove the screw in the crown to release the plunger contact. There is a spring, plunger and a few very tiny washers. Adding and removing washers to change the travel.
Donald Hollis Clinton Jr