Equipment Gift Ideas ~$100

[jrh]

oh well this does change things quite a bit. This makes me think I may just want to spring for the Leon Paul afterall, hopefully I want to make this the mask she uses for years to come.

What is the average lifespan of the lame itself? With about 3-5hr/week use for the next two years and just casual use (club practices or tournaments on the weekend) from then on, would you suggest the Uhlmann with replacable innerbib or the LP with the x-change system?

(just when I thought I had the mask figured out!)

[neevel]

The Leon Paul. It'll save a bunch in both money and convenience in the long run. Sabre mask bibs, even with moderate use, will usually no longer pass the 5-ohm limit in spots after at most two years.

One very nice thing about the LP X-change is that, it not only allows you to replace the bib, but the design of the mask eliminates the lame material in the places where it fails fastest-- on the "cheeks" of the mask. Because the lame fabric there is fixed to the mesh (which has no give), it gets chewed up pretty quickly. With the LP mask, you have only the stainless mesh there.

There is one minor maintenance item to be aware of with the X-change masks. You can sometimes get a layer of dirt or dried sweat-salts building up in the connecting slot for the bib which can interfere with conductivity. All you need to do is periodically remove the bib and gently rub the slot down with a Scotch-brite pad.

-Dave

[jrh]

ok, well then the final question before I am sold on the LP S11CX mask, it is an electric sabre mask, correct? looking at the picture here
http://www.leonpaul.com/acatalog/S11...hange_mask.jpg
it seems like the bib itself would not be made of lame material, would the mask as ordered have a conducting bib?

[oiuyt]

I have never seen the need to get an FIE sabre blade, although they are required for international/worldcup type events. I would stay away from the cheaper chinese blades (JL, Blue Guantlet). They are light weight but I have heard the take nasty bends and are never the same again.

Uhm.... FIE sabre blades? No. There are maraging sabre blades. They are not required for any competition. They're also every bit as expensive as the maraging foil and epee blades but the way sabres are used and their causes for breakage mean that there's no equivalent gain in lifespan.

Personally I like the BG blades. Not the very bottom level ones (which they might have gotten rid of by now) but the next rund up on their ladder. Generally available for somewhere in the $16-18 range, not sure on the exact price. They work well for me and seem to last as long as anyone else's $18-20+ blades that I've seen/used.

-B

[DHCJr]

ok, well then the final question before I am sold on the LP S11CX mask, it is an electric sabre mask, correct? looking at the picture here
http://www.leonpaul.com/acatalog/S11...hange_mask.jpg
it seems like the bib itself would not be made of lame material, would the mask as ordered have a conducting bib?

It is just a bad picture. Leon Paul uses 2 different lame material. That is lame over the whole front of the bib. They do not sell a plain blb for the X-change masks. I asked Barry about that and it is because the design is not for repeated changing of bibs, such as you would do between practice and competition. It is designed to have an easy way to change a worn bib for a new bib.

[jrh]

excellent donald, thanks for the reply! Ok, so that settles it, sounds like the LP S11CX mask is getting the nod. Thanks alot guys, I'll keep you posted on how she likes it.

Oh, I got her to measure her head last night and she measured 50cm so it looks like small will be the way to go. Thanks alot for all the help guys! I think I am going to put off getting the sabre until christmas or so, but hopefully then I can use all the advice you guys gave me to pick out a good sabre!

Thanks again! I'll keep you posted.

Jeff

[prototoast]

excellent donald, thanks for the reply! Ok, so that settles it, sounds like the LP S11CX mask is getting the nod. Thanks alot guys, I'll keep you posted on how she likes it.

Oh, I got her to measure her head last night and she measured 50cm so it looks like small will be the way to go. Thanks alot for all the help guys! I think I am going to put off getting the sabre until christmas or so, but hopefully then I can use all the advice you guys gave me to pick out a good sabre!

Thanks again! I'll keep you posted.

Jeff

You made a good choice. She should be extremely happy with her new mask.

[deflagratio]

Blue Gauntlet blades are wonderful. I've been using two of mine for over a year. The only thing is that they seem to develop a bend point with time that you have to straighten every now and then but that helps me to flick around peoples guards and parries. Also Blue Gauntlet has a new model of sabre that is the lightest thing I have ever held.

[CvilleFencer]

Uhm.... FIE sabre blades? No. There are maraging sabre blades. They are not required for any competition. They're also every bit as expensive as the maraging foil and epee blades but the way sabres are used and their causes for breakage mean that there's no equivalent gain in lifespan.

While I am no high level saber fencer (or even an electric saber fencer) I am not sure what you mean. Are you saying FIE saber blades do not exists, are you saying you do not need FIE equipment for International/world cup events, or are you saying both?

For FIE saber blades I point your attention to the following:
http://www.thefencingpost.com/Sabre.htm
http://www.uhlmann-fechtsport.de/inhalt_katalog_e.htm
https://www.allstar.de/modules.php?o...&cPath=30_3005

If they were not required I do not know why Uhlmann and Allstar among others would bother to make them. Furthermmore, while I do not have the FIE rules in front of me, and I am to lazy to look them up or learn French I am pretty sure they read something like "All gear used and worn by a fencer must meet FIE standards"

I do agree that the cheaper blades last just as long from what I have heard from higher level fencers, although a couple that I know do seem to think the LP or Allstar balance better, but which is truly a better feel seems to be open for debate/personal preferance.

[prototoast]

While I am no high level saber fencer (or even an electric saber fencer) I am not sure what you mean. Are you saying FIE saber blades do not exists, are you saying you do not need FIE equipment for International/world cup events, or are you saying both?

For FIE saber blades I point your attention to the following:
http://www.thefencingpost.com/Sabre.htm
http://www.uhlmann-fechtsport.de/inhalt_katalog_e.htm
https://www.allstar.de/modules.php?o...&cPath=30_3005

If they were not required I do not know why Uhlmann and Allstar among others would bother to make them. Furthermmore, while I do not have the FIE rules in front of me, and I am to lazy to look them up or learn French I am pretty sure they read something like "All gear used and worn by a fencer must meet FIE standards"

I do agree that the cheaper blades last just as long from what I have heard from higher level fencers, although a couple that I know do seem to think the LP or Allstar balance better, but which is truly a better feel seems to be open for debate/personal preferance.

The FIE has no standard for sabre blades. Those blades may be made of the same maraging steel that the FIE epee and foil blades are made out of, but without an FIE standard to meet, they really aren't quite "FIE" sabre blades.

[jrh]

Alittle update on this today, I ordered the mask today from LP, so we'll see how long it takes to get here. She has a tournament in NH I believe in a few weeks, so hopefully it will show up with some haste. Oh well, I took the plunge! Lets see how it works out!