I prefer this Engaging Guard to any other for the following reasons:—
That when properly formed, it protects the arm and body from all cuts, and the sword is in the best position to defend the head and leg, which may be done by merely raising and lowering the hand. In other guards you have to turn the point down in addition to doing so.
Simply raising or lowering the hand will also parry the thrusts, however high or low or at whatever part they may be aimed. Tierce and quarte, which are the other engaging guards usually taken, only defend the right and left breasts.
The hand and point are also better placed in it than in other guards for giving the stop thrusts and time thrusts by opposition, and all attacks except those directed at the head.
The Engaging Guard with the point up is, however, preferred and taken by some sabre players. It is called outside guard or tierce when the hand is on the right, and inside guard or quarte when on the left side of the body. In each of these guards one side of the arm is exposed, and for that and the above-named reasons I do not like either of them so well as the one with the point down (high seconde).
To form the Inside Guard or Quarte.
Place the right elbow about eight inches in front of the centre of the right breast, with the hand advanced and to the left. Pommel of the sword opposite the left nipple. The point as high as, and about two or three inches to the right (his right) of your adversary’s right eye. Edge slightly turned to your left.
To form the Outside Guard or Tierce.
Move the hand about six or seven inches to the right without shifting the upper arm, which should be kept near the side, and slightly turn the palm down. Edge to the right. Point about two or three inches to the left (his left) of your adversary’s left eye. Hand and point the same height as in Inside Guard.
These guards may be used as parries with good effect against a bayonet or lance.