New Leon Paul Inovations at the Olympics

[Barry Paul]

Hope no body minds the post as it is slightly Leon Paul centric. I will be in Athens for 4 days to watch our U.K. fencers so in the interest of fairness I will report any other new products I see.
New Products for the Olympics.

Protective clothing using d3o A new wonder material?
For some years we have been looking for an impact absorbing material which was flexible in normal use but protective under impact loading such as being hit with the point or side of a fencing sword. Initial testing confirmed immediately that d3o can supply the solution for protection in masks bibs, gloves, and body protection for individuals and coaches teaching clothing.

Leon Paul were so convinced about using d3o that some new equipment was made for appraisal by our top fencers at a pre-Olympic training camp. Richard Kruse our Olympic Foil fencer was so impressed he will be using at the Olympics a new improved protective plastron with d3o protection for the shoulders/back and a mask with extra d3o protection in the bib.

The 4 times Olympic Champion and 7 times World Champion Stanislav Pozdnyakov will also be trying out a plastron with added d3o protection in Athens.

Sabre Blade.

Pozdnyakov-Pro® Ultra Black Sabre blade (Reference 25POZ)

This blade is the result of a year of development and testing by Pozdnyakov. It is lightweight, perfectly balanced, durable and beautifully finished in a highly polished jet black.
"In order to perform the fastest attacks your blade must be perfectly balanced. It must have the weight as close to the hand as possible to allow for accurate movement at the tip. The Pozdnyakov-Pro® is designed to give you the best balance while remaining stiff for increaced accuracy. " Stanislav Pozdnyakov.

Other new Leon Paul products in use at the Olympics.

Latest version of our G.T foil points.
New Foil and Sabre Guard with a conductive black coating.
New Sabre handle we are developing in conjunction with Pozdnyakov.
Improved inside guard socket for foil and sabre.
Lightweight lames for foil and sabre.
Vision 2000 Sabre mask with Contour Fit System® and X-Change System ®
® are registered Trade Marks of Leon Paul

[ReverseLunge]

Can you tell us more about d3o? What the heck is it? do you have a picture of it? Does it breath? Does it stretch? How does it compare to kevlar in weight and protection? How much is it? Will it make me more sexy?

[TheArmourer]

Barry
I'm interested in the "improved inside guard socket" but can't find any mention on the LP website?

[Barry Paul]

The material is simmillar to foam rubber which becomes hard when high rates of force are applied simmillar to the action of silly putty. However this material is light weight and breathable. More information will follow over the next months.

With regard to the bayonet socket we are waiting for patent/ design protection to be lodged which should be completed this week. This will be followed by some field trials for several months. Barry

[Barry Paul]

You can see a picture of garment on this link http://www.leonpaul.com/images/magi...ry/IMG_2670.htm

Material is soft lightweight but under high strain rates becomes hard. Barry

[TheArmourer]

Don't think the link is working?

[Barry Paul]

http://www.leonpaul.com/images/magic...y/IMG_2670.htm Barry

[CvilleFencer]

Wow, it sounds pretty cool and does not look to thick compared to a normal nylon plastron in the picture! Will it be suitable for use in jackets and breeches as well? Maybe as an insert panel in the thighs, shoulders, cheat and back if not a whole jacket?

I would like to hear more about the lightweight lames (how long do they last compared to normal ones and how would they compare to the Infinity lames for example) and the cool new bell guards. I remember that you said they would be fairly expensive on the UK thread about them but are we talking like a 300% increase or more? Just for the spiff factor I would shell out at least double (maybe triple) as long as the conductive material lasted under heavy attacks. I would like to hear more about the manufacturing process as well. Do you bond a conductive film over the polymer or is the polymer impregnated with tons of little metal flecks? Something differant? I do tend to use my bell guards till the fall apart as I am somewhat superstitious about taking apart a working weapon for any reason other than needed repair. Therefore how long they hold up would be a bit of concern for me.

Thanks for the info Barry!

[Barry Paul]

Wow, it sounds pretty cool and does not look to thick compared to a normal nylon plastron in the picture!

Will it be suitable for use in jackets and breeches as well? Maybe as an insert panel in the thighs, shoulders, cheat and back if not a whole jacket?

YES All IS POSSIBLE.

I would like to hear more about the lightweight lames (how long do they last compared to normal ones and how would they compare to the Infinity lames for example)
HAVE BEEN TESTED USED FOR AT LEAST A YEAR LIFE AS THE NORMAL JACKET OR BETTER ESPECIALLY FOR SBRE UNDER THE ARM WERE TRADITIONAL LAME RUBS.

and the cool new bell guards. I remember that you said they would be fairly expensive on the UK thread about them but are we talking like a 300% increase or more?

50% TO 75%

Just for the spiff factor I would shell out at least double (maybe triple) as long as the conductive material lasted under heavy attacks. I would like to hear more about the manufacturing process as well. Do you bond a conductive film over the polymer or is the polymer impregnated with tons of little metal flecks? Something differant?

NOT A POLYMER ITS A COATING ON THE STANDARD GUARDS. HOW LONG DEPENDS ON USAGE BUT THEY LOOK COOL WHILE THE LAST. I do tend to use my bell guards till the fall apart as I am somewhat superstitious about taking apart a working weapon for any reason other than needed repair. Therefore how long they hold up would be a bit of concern for me.

Thanks for the info Barry!

Barry Paul M.D.

[Zara_athlen]

So will this stuff be more light weight and breathable than the sydney class jacket and breeches ?