| Today fencers specialize, at the elite level in a | | | | of 15 (where all three weapons are equal) or for |
| single weapon and at the club level usually in a | | | | the best of 11 (when epee is fenced for one |
| single weapon, but occasionally in two. There have | | | | touch). When fencing for 15 touches, the bout |
| always been specialists, but in the earlier days of | | | | ends when one fencer scores 8 or more hits, as |
| the sport three weapon fencers were quite | | | | the opponent cannot score enough touches to |
| commonplace. From a practical point of view, | | | | win. Similarly in bouts for 11 touches, the bout |
| even through the 1960s, small clubs widely spaced | | | | ends when one fencer scores 6 touches. |
| in much of the country meant that if you only | | | | Tournament formats were generally single |
| fenced one weapon, your choice of opponents | | | | elimination. |
| and competitions could be quite limited. | | | | The 11 touch bout is true to the tradition of one |
| The three weapon generalist had a specific | | | | touch epee. At the same time, a case can be |
| competition format as late as 1948, with United | | | | made that this creates a more even competition, |
| States individual national championships being held | | | | as one touch epee has an element of chance |
| in Three Weapons. Two options exist for three | | | | missing in epee bouts for five touches. Although |
| weapons bouts: | | | | the 11 touch bout can be won by the fencer who |
| (1) a bout fenced with 5 touches in foil, 5 touches | | | | wins all five touches in foil and then the single |
| in epee, and 5 touches in sabre, or | | | | epee touch, this may be less likely to occur than |
| (2) a bout fenced with 5 touches in foil, 1 touch in | | | | one fencer reaching 8 by winning a combination of |
| epee, and 5 touches in sabre. | | | | foil and epee bouts. |
| In both cases fencing is for the best of the | | | | This bout format has potential value in the club |
| number of touches. This means that the weapon | | | | that has recreational fencers who fence all three |
| changes when the total number of touches has | | | | weapons, and offers an enjoyable challenge for |
| been fenced. For example, the foil portion of the | | | | anyone with familiarity with the foil, epee, and |
| bout ends with scores of 5-0, 4-1, 3-2, 2-3, 1-4, | | | | sabre. It is also consistent with a classical fencing |
| or 0-5 being possible. | | | | program, having been fenced as a distinct fourth |
| At the same time the overall bout is for the best | | | | weapon as early as 1907 in the United States. |