"Steam" weapons

Earlier today I went into Leon Paul and asked for a "steam foil" with a leather-wrapped French grip. The sales assistant went to the back to put one together and, a few minutes later, handed me an electric one (with the correct grip). The correct foil was swiftly obtained when I specified that I meant "non-electric".

I wondered, therefore, if the term is not in as widely-used as I thought. I picked it up 30+ years ago when fencing in Scotland and assumed it was common. Do you still use it?