new foil

[Ghost]

I'm looking to buy a new electric foil with a french grip and I'm not quite sure what brand to buy. Uhlmann is obviously good and Santelli is decent enough, but we all know Blue Gauntlet is horrible. So If I could get some opinions that would be great. I'm not looking for anything too whippy, nor do I want it too stiff. A good point is a must of course. Thanks!


~Ghost

Live is a dream and death is just the sunrise

[The0ne]

do you want to go for an FIE blade or not?

[great bowyer]

you need to be more speciffic, i am sure you could get hundreds of recommendations with the details you provided, for instence, how much do you want to spend. you could get an fie weapon for $150, or you can get a uhlmann stardard colored blade like i had for $75, both have about the same flexability. as far as points and handles go, the german tips are considered by some to be the best tip you can get, while others swear by the french. you can specify what parts you get on your blade with most vendors.

for more ideas, check out the reveiws section in this site, lots of great info.
http://www.fencing101.com/reviews/

[frenzl]

nothing wrong with BG -you can still buy things from them , just not their blades. Get an FIE BF i'm my opinion but it might be too stiff for your liking.

[cowpaste]

I honestly suggest you get a pistol grip since you do foil. Is there any particular reason you want a French grip?

[telkanuru]

Originally Posted by frenzl

nothing wrong with BG -you can still buy things from them , just not their blades. Get an FIE BF i'm my opinion but it might be too stiff for your liking.

Is this just a thing with their foil blades? 'cause I'll swear by the SG Super epee blade.

[Artisan]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

Is this just a thing with their foil blades? 'cause I'll swear by the SG Super epee blade.

ICK...I've really tried to like them, but they are very inconsistent, of four I've had only one was ok, the others all developed soft spots very rapidly, and all felt pretty mushy and slow. For a cheapo Epee blade I like the Fleche blade (russian made) that Blade sells. $26 unwired. Light and Stiff, good action.

[Grey]

If you're into fencing, I recommend going for a good maraging blade straight away. I would recommend BF forge =)

[telkanuru]

Originally Posted by Artisan

ICK...I've really tried to like them, but they are very inconsistent, of four I've had only one was ok, the others all developed soft spots very rapidly, and all felt pretty mushy and slow. For a cheapo Epee blade I like the Fleche blade (russian made) that Blade sells. $26 unwired. Light and Stiff, good action.

My preference may be due to the fact that I can get to BG occasionally to hand pick the blade...

[akaiyuki]

I got two foils from BG, my first one was great, lasted for two years while I used it for both practice and electric fencing (cuz my school's practice foils were all french grip and I can't hold them ) The second one wasn't as good now... It stopped working after a few months and I think I need to rewire it.

[Ghost]

I guess I seemed to have forgotten a few details. Sorry. FIE would be nice, but it is by no means required and my price range is preferably up to $130. I've just seen some things I can't identify. Like BF and SG for example. I'm going to assume that those are foundries or companies, but none that I can place my finger on. BG is obviously Blue-Gauntlet, but those two I don't know.
Oh yes, and I choose to use a french grip simply because that's what I like. The pistol is easy enough to use, but I really only find appropriate for flicking and since I do not use that maneuver there's no need for that grip. For straight, non-flicking, attacks I find the French grip to be the best simply because I can extend my already long reach another inch and it allows better finger parries as you can just loosen your grip a touch and the tip will drop an inch or so. But anyways, thanks for all your advice.

[DHCJr]

BF stands for Blaise Frére a French Forge. SG had me confused also. At first I thought they meant STM, which is a Ukranian Forge. But then I remember how much BG and SG are tied together. Blue Gauntlet and St. George. SG is a spin-off of Blue Gauntlet. There are a number of companies that have a number of different names.

For example, Allstar, USA has a number of names they go by.

[canthidefromme]

Originally Posted by Ghost

...you can just loosen your grip a touch and the tip will drop an inch or so...

Who says you can't do that with a pistol grip.

[Ghost]

I didn't say that you necessarily can't do exceptional finger parries with a pistol. I just meant that I find it easier. That's all. Anyways, thanks for the clarification on those acronyms. That was my main problem.

[hpfencing]

I use nothing but Vinitti FIE blades they are awesome......

TCA use to sell them but I know swordmasters sells them now. Scott has a great deal on them....

I have used the Vinitti blades for years and years and they are the best blade for the money.....

[ShadowHuntr]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

Is this just a thing with their foil blades? 'cause I'll swear by the SG Super epee blade.

i got 2 90 degree bends in both my SG epee blades within 5 months for one and 2 months for the other. it was total bull crap, i would NEVER buy another SG. Beyond that, all my SG foils got weird bends in them. I trained the blade, and i admit i have a little tendencdy to strong arm a little bit but even still. the bends were a little...uncalled for.

[telkanuru]

Huh. Again, probly 'cause I hand-pick mine when I go to visit relatives in NYC, but I've had 2 Supers. One I bought two years ago march, and it broke last january because I lent it to a lefty and it got a bad bend in the wrong direction. The second I got a year ago feb. and it's still fine. I had to rewire it once, and it is getting a bit soft, but that's it. Oh, and the bell guard has been used for so many parries, the edge is getting sharp