This German-style epee body cord ensures the best, most unshakeable contact between body cord plug and socket on the weapon. Here the plug is latched to weapon by a steel wire and ball combination that swings around from the socket to close over the end of the plug, locking it tight. Please note: with German-style body cord, you need German-style socket. If you donât use this system, you are left to the vagaries of a very breakable and sometimes unloadable plastic clip that can slip off the socket and into the oblivion of your fencing bag. Not so with the PC German-style system: necessary pieces remain where they should be. The PC body cord also uses heavier gauge wires to assure high conductivity and durability, especially around the end plugs where the cord twists and bends the most. The final show of quality lies in the design and manufacture of the pins that make up the plugs themselves. They are cleverly made of overlapping layers of good quality metal, which reinforces the form and fit of the pins in the socket and strength of metal that gives durability to the design. Color of the plugs and wire may be different.