cartel foil blades

[Agent_V]

This might be a question for those overseas, because I haven't found Cartel foil blades at any vendor in the US (though if they are supplied here, please tell me who carries them!).

Anyways...

I got this foil blade from a teammate who received it from his previous coach, and too cut a long story short it is the most wonderful blade I've ever set paws on. Very strong but light, much lighter than vinitis, somewhat flexible in the top quarter. absolutely perfect for my kind of tight pointwork/no flicking game.
So, I know that cartel blades are made also by BF, distributed by the french company cartel-escrime, but my question is, are there significant differences between the BF blades supplied by Ulmann/Allstar and Cartel, or was this just a complete luck of the draw that I got such an amazingly well-balanced blade?

One thing to note was that it also had an "Atlanta '96" stamp (with the olympic torch I think). Does that just mean that it passed control at the Atlanta games, or could it be some special edition of the blade?

I want to order some of these blades, I'd even order them from france if I knew that they'd be similar to the one I have (though unfortunately was broken a while ago), but the thing is that I don't know if I was just lucky, or if the Cartel blades really all are that way. Any knowledge about this Veeco, DHC, neevel, or anyone else internationally aware?

Thanks a bunch,

Alexander

[DHCJr]

As many have said before, blades are for the most part hand made. When you buy sight unseen, it is the luck of the draw.

As far as the Atlanta 96 logo question, yes, no, maybe. At the end of any major international, it is a tradition to open up the 'stamping' of the control marks at the end of the competition. The referees, fencers, coaches, Armorers etc. will bring in something metal to be stamped. If it is not an FIE blade, it was probably one of these.

[Swordmaster]

If you see a BF mark on the blade it was made in the same factory as the ones sold by Uhlmann/Allstar/Leon Paul/...etc.
Cartel to my knowledge does not make any blades. They simply have them stamped with their logo at the factory when they buy a run. Blades will differ within a run and especially from different production runs due to steel inconsistancies and tempuratures that the time of forging and tempering.
Fortunately for you there are several vendor who carry the BF blades. I suggest you go to Summer Nationals and blade shop based on the feel you are looking for - not your price range.

[noodle]

bg carries cartel stamped bf white epee blades.
or at least, they had a billion of 'em at the arlington nac.
perhaps they have foils as well?
just a thought, if you're truly interested.

[The0ne]

Alex, at JO's I think I saw Cartels at some Uhlmann store, and maybe BG. . . I know I saw some there, so you should be able to find some at nationals.