Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's épée
The men's épée was one of four fencing events on the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. The medals were swept by the French fencers, who also took the gold medal in the team épée event. Each nation could enter up to 12 fencers.
Competition format
The competition was held over four rounds. In each round, each pool held a round-robin, with bouts to 1 touch. Double-touches counted as touches against both fencers. Barrages were used as necessary to determine the advancing fencers.- First round: 13 pools of between 5 to 8 fencers each. The 3 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the second round.
- Second round: 8 pools of 5 fencers each. The 2 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the semifinals.
- Semifinals: 2 pools of 8 fencers each. The 4 fencers in each pool with the fewest touches against advanced to the final.
- Final: 1 pool of 8 fencers.
Results
First round
The first round was conducted in round-robin format, to one touch. Pool sizes ranged from 5 to 8 fencers. Double-touches counted against both fencers. The three contestants who had been struck the fewest times advanced.Pool A
Fildes and von Rosen had a double-touch, as did Stöhr and Fildes.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Lauritz Østrup | 5 | 1 | |
| 2 | Bernard Gravier | 4 | 2 | |
| 2 | Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek | 4 | 2 | |
| 4 | Eric Carlberg | 3 | 3 | |
| 5 | Pontus von Rosen | 3 | 4 | |
| 6 | Georg Stöhr | 2 | 5 | |
| 7 | Luke Fildes | 2 | 6 |
Pool B
Double-touches were between Gates and van Schreven, Jack and Gates, and Collignon and van Schreven.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský | 5 | 1 | |
| 2 | Charles Colignon | 5 | 2 | |
| 3 | Pietro Speciale | 3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Herbert Sander | 2 | 4 | |
| 4 | Johan van Schreven | 4 | 4 | |
| 6 | Walter Gates | 3 | 5 | |
| 6 | Fritz Jack | 2 | 5 |
Pool C
Blake and Dwinger had the only double-touch in this six-man pool.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Joseph Marais | 5 | 0 | |
| 2 | Ejnar Levison | 3 | 2 | |
| 2 | Gaston Renard | 3 | 2 | |
| 4 | Johannes Adam | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | John Blake | 2 | 4 | |
| 4 | Max Dwinger | 2 | 4 |
Pool D
The fourth pool had 8 fencers. Berger was clearly the best of the crowd, going untouched in his seven bouts. When five different fencers tied for second place at 4 touches against apiece, a playoff round-robin was held. The first playoff eliminated only one fencer, with the remaining four again tying and forcing a second playoff. That round resulted in Holt and Tvrzský tying at 1 touch apiece, eliminating the other two fencers.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Henri-Georges Berger | 7 | 0 | |
| 2 | Otto Becker | 4 | 4 | |
| 2 | Hans Bergsland | 4 | 4 | |
| 2 | Dino Diana | 4 | 4 | |
| 2 | Martin Holt | 3 | 4 | |
| 2 | Vilém Tvrzský | 4 | 4 | |
| 7 | André Sarens | 3 | 6 | |
| 7 | George van Rossem | 2 | 6 |
Bergsland was hit three times, finishing sixth overall in the pool while the other four fencers in the playoff each received two hits to advance to a second playoff.
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 2 | Otto Becker | 3 | 2 | |
| 2 | Dino Diana | 3 | 2 | |
| 2 | Martin Holt | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Vilém Tvrzský | 2 | 2 | |
| 6 | Hans Bergsland | 1 | 3 |
Holt and Tvrzský tied for an overall second-place finish in the pool with one touch against apiece. Becker and Diana placed fourth.
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 2 | Martin Holt | 2 | 1 | |
| 2 | Vilém Tvrzský | 2 | 1 | |
| 4 | Otto Becker | 1 | 2 | |
| 4 | Dino Diana | 1 | 2 |
Pool E
The fifth pool also included 8 fencers, but did not require a playoff. The only touch against Alibert came in a double-touch with van Löben Sels.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Gaston Alibert | 7 | 1 | |
| 2 | Fernand de Montigny | 5 | 3 | |
| 2 | Ivan Osiier | 5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Percival Davson | 3 | 4 | |
| 4 | Sante Ceccherini | 4 | 4 | |
| 6 | Otakar Lada | 3 | 5 | |
| 7 | Robert Krünert | 2 | 6 | |
| 7 | Maurits Jacob van Löben Sels | 3 | 6 |
Pool F
The sixth competition pool was smaller, with only 6 fencers.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | François Rom | 4 | 1 | |
| 2 | Giulio Cagiati | 4 | 2 | |
| 2 | Sydney Martineau | 3 | 2 | |
| 4 | Henry Peyron | 3 | 3 | |
| 5 | Albert Naumann | 1 | 4 | |
| 5 | Bedrich Schejbal | 1 | 4 |
Pool G
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Leaf Daniell | 5 | 1 | |
| 2 | Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf | 4 | 2 | |
| 3 | Fernand Bosmans | 4 | 3 | |
| 3 | Frédéric Dubourdieu | 4 | 3 | |
| 3 | Emil Schön | 4 | 3 | |
| 6 | Dezső Földes | 1 | 5 | |
| 7 | Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh | 1 | 6 |
The Official Report says only that Bosmans defeated Dubourdieu and Schön in the playoff, without giving further detail.
| Place | Fencer | Nation |
| 3 | Fernand Bosmans | |
| 4 | Frédéric Dubourdieu | |
| 4 | Emil Schön |
Pool H
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Alfred Labouchere | 5 | 1 | |
| 2 | Paul Anspach | 5 | 2 | |
| 3 | Ralph Chalmers | 3 | 3 | |
| 3 | Jacques Rodocanachi | 3 | 3 | |
| 5 | Jacob Erkrath de Bary | 4 | 4 | |
| 5 | Alessandro Pirzio Biroli | 3 | 4 | |
| 7 | František Šourek-Tuček | 0 | 6 |
The single bout between Rodocanachi and Chalmers to break the tie for third resulted in a win for the Frenchman.
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 3 | Jacques Rodocanachi | 1 | 0 | |
| 4 | Ralph Chalmers | 0 | 1 |
Pool I
The ninth pool was the first of the second day of competition, 18 July.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Robert Montgomerie | 6 | 1 | |
| 2 | Gustaf Lindblom | 5 | 3 | |
| 2 | Giuseppe Mangiarotti | 5 | 3 | |
| 2 | René Quenessen | 3 | 3 | |
| 5 | Frantz Jørgensen | 3 | 4 | |
| 6 | Percy Nobbs | 2 | 6 | |
| 6 | August Petri | 2 | 6 |
Mangiarotti was defeated in the three-way playoff for the two remaining advancement spots.
| Place | Fencer | Nation |
| 2 | Gustaf Lindblom | |
| 2 | René Quenessen | |
| 4 | Giuseppe Mangiarotti |
Pool J
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Edgar Amphlett | 4 | 1 | |
| 1 | Jetze Doorman | 4 | 1 | |
| 3 | Eugène Olivier | 3 | 2 | |
| 4 | Zulavszky Béla | 2 | 4 | |
| 4 | Ernst Moldenhauer | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Pietro Sarzano | 2 | 4 |
Pool K
The eleventh pool was the smallest, with only 5 fencers.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Marcelo Bertinetti | 3 | 1 | |
| 2 | Cecil Haig | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Pierre le Blon | 3 | 2 | |
| 2 | Simon Okker | 3 | 2 | |
| 5 | Georg Branting | 0 | 4 |
In the playoff for the second and third spots, le Blon won with Haig taking the final spot. Okker was eliminated.
| Place | Fencer | Nation |
| 2 | Pierre le Blon | |
| 3 | Cecil Haig | |
| 4 | Simon Okker |
Pool L
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Alexandre Lippmann | 4 | 1 | |
| 1 | François Stuyck | 5 | 1 | |
| 3 | Riccardo Nowak | 3 | 2 | |
| 4 | Birger Cnattingius | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Edgar Seligman | 2 | 4 | |
| 6 | Gösta Olson | 1 | 5 |
Pool M
The final pool also had only 5 fencers.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Jean Stern | 4 | 1 | |
| 2 | Henry Davids | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Marcel van Langenhove | 2 | 2 | |
| 4 | Julius Lichtenfels | 2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Tóth Péter | 1 | 3 |
Second round
Seven of the eight second round pools had 5 fencers, with the eighth having only 4. 2 advanced to the semifinals from each pool.Pool 1
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Pierre le Blon | 4 | 1 | |
| 2 | Jetze Doorman | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Jean Stern | 4 | 2 | |
| 4 | François Stuyck | 1 | 3 | |
| 5 | Ejnar Levison | 1 | 4 |
Doorman again lost to Stern in the playoff bout.
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 2 | Jean Stern | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | Jetze Doorman | 0 | 1 |
Pool 2
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Lauritz Østrup | 3 | 1 | |
| 2 | Ivan Osiier | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Gaston Renard | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Jacques Rodocanachi | 2 | 2 | |
| 5 | Edgar Amphlett | 1 | 3 |
Renard won the playoff pool, with no further details given in the Official Report.
| Place | Fencer | Nation |
| 2 | Gaston Renard | |
| 3 | Ivan Osiier | |
| 3 | Jacques Rodocanachi |
Pool 3
Alibert continued on his perfect streak, winning four more bouts untouched.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Gaston Alibert | 4 | 0 | |
| 2 | Henri-Georges Berger | 3 | 2 | |
| 2 | Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf | 2 | 2 | |
| 4 | Pietro Speciale | 1 | 3 | |
| 5 | Henry Davids | 1 | 4 |
Berger won the playoff, defeating von Lobsdorf again.
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 2 | Henri-Georges Berger | 1 | 0 | |
| 3 | Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf | 0 | 1 |
Pool 4
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Martin Holt | 3 | 1 | |
| 2 | Bernard Gravier | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Robert Montgomerie | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Vilém Tvrzský | 2 | 2 | |
| 5 | Joseph Marais | 1 | 3 |
Montgomerie won against Gravier and Tvrzský in the three-way playoff for the second semifinal spot.
| Place | Fencer | Nation |
| 2 | Robert Montgomerie | |
| 3 | Bernard Gravier | |
| 3 | Vilém Tvrzský |
Pool 5
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Gustaf Lindblom | 3 | 1 | |
| 1 | Alexandre Lippmann | 4 | 1 | |
| 3 | Leaf Daniell | 3 | 2 | |
| 4 | Marcelo Bertinetti | 1 | 3 | |
| 5 | Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský | 0 | 4 |
Pool 6
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | François Rom | 3 | 1 | |
| 2 | Fernand Bosmans | 4 | 2 | |
| 3 | Charles Colignon | 1 | 3 | |
| 3 | Marcel van Langenhove | 2 | 3 | |
| 3 | Riccardo Nowak | 2 | 3 |
Pool 7
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Paul Anspach | 3 | 1 | |
| 2 | Alfred Labouchere | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Sydney Martineau | 2 | 2 | |
| 2 | Fernand de Montigny | 2 | 2 | |
| 5 | Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek | 1 | 3 |
Labouchere won the three-way playoff for second place and a semifinal spot.
| Place | Fencer | Nation |
| 2 | Alfred Labouchere | |
| 3 | Sydney Martineau | |
| 3 | Fernand de Montigny |
Pool 8
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Cecil Haig | 2 | 1 | |
| 1 | Eugène Olivier | 2 | 1 | |
| 3 | Giulio Cagiati | 1 | 2 | |
| 3 | René Quenessen | 1 | 2 |
Semifinals
There were two semifinals, each of 8 fencers. The top 4 in each advanced to the final.Semifinal 1
Alibert was hit twice, both in double-touches.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Gaston Alibert | 7 | 2 | |
| 2 | Cecil Haig | 4 | 3 | |
| 2 | Alfred Labouchere | 4 | 3 | |
| 4 | Robert Montgomerie | 3 | 4 | |
| 5 | Henri-Georges Berger | 4 | 5 | |
| 5 | Gaston Renard | 3 | 5 | |
| 5 | François Rom | 5 | 5 | |
| 8 | Fernand Bosmans | 4 | 7 |
Semifinal 2
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 1 | Paul Anspach | 5 | 2 | |
| 2 | Martin Holt | 4 | 3 | |
| 3 | Alexandre Lippmann | 5 | 4 | |
| 3 | Eugène Olivier | 5 | 4 | |
| 3 | Jean Stern | 3 | 4 | |
| 6 | Gustaf Lindblom | 4 | 5 | |
| 6 | Lauritz Østrup | 5 | 5 | |
| 8 | Pierre le Blon | 2 | 6 |
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| 3 | Alexandre Lippmann | 2 | 0 | |
| 4 | Eugène Olivier | 1 | 1 | |
| 5 | Jean Stern | 0 | 2 |
Final
The final resulted in Alibert taking the championship after again hitting all opponents, though he suffered another pair of double-touches. There was a three-way tie for second place between two Frenchman and Montgomerie of the British team.| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| Gaston Alibert | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2 | Alexandre Lippmann | 5 | 3 | |
| 2 | Robert Montgomerie | 6 | 3 | |
| 2 | Eugène Olivier | 4 | 3 | |
| 5 | Paul Anspach | 2 | 5 | |
| 5 | Cecil Haig | 2 | 5 | |
| 5 | Alfred Labouchere | 2 | 5 | |
| 8 | Martin Holt | 2 | 6 |
The playoff pool for second and third resulted in wins for the two French fencers, completing France's medal sweep in the event.
| Place | Fencer | Nation | For | Against |
| Alexandre Lippmann | 2 | 0 | ||
| Eugène Olivier | 1 | 1 | ||
| 4 | Robert Montgomerie | 0 | 2 |