Good Foils Blades for Flicking

[Engfoil]

I've recently decided to switch from normal foil blades to FIE foil blades because I want my blades to last longer. I bought one FIE foil made by All-Star but found it to be very stiff and therefore very difficult to land a flick. Any suggestions on FIE blades that are flexible and therefore better suited for flicking?

[Stryder]

Leon Paul FIE are great.
Scaroni FIE were even better but I think they are no more.

Vniti FIE are good, middle of the road blades. Flickable, but strong.

[gesk]

LeonPaul flickmaster. Got to warn you, it is abit pricy.

[Pessina]

My blades are BF, and pretty stiff, and probably the same as the Allstar one. I'm just kind of getting round to working out how to flick with it. I think even if it is stiff you still can.

I come up against other fencers with totally flicky blades, and my instinct is to beat the hell out of them (the blades I mean). My question is this: is their any disadvantage to a really flicky blade? (I've never had one) Like, is it harder to parry or do they get out of shape quicker etc

[foodle]

I've been using Leon-Paul Flickmasters for a few months. I like them a lot. Flicky enough, but not too much so.

Pessina: The main disadvantage of really flexible blades is point control. The point sometimes won't be where you think it is, since there's too much flexibility in the blade.

[weapon7]

Where can you buy the LeonPaul flickmaster in the US. I have seen the maraging Paul blades on both American Fencing and Santelli but it did not say if they were the Flickmaster. Thanks in advance.

[latenight]

PBT Ukraine blades are good if you are looking for a non maraging blade that flicks.

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: latenight ]

[Arturo]

The BF superblue blades have been great for mr. The Leon Paul non Fie that Santelli Sells are extreemly flicky. The FL blades that I have had a chance to use have all been very flicky as well.

[foodle]

Originally posted by weapon7:
<STRONG>Where can you buy the LeonPaul flickmaster in the US?</STRONG>

I visited the Leon Paul store/factory when I was in London for other reasons. I bought the blades and had them shipped to me (not exactly kosher carry-on luggage).

You should be able to mail order stuff through their website (www.leonpaul.com). That way you can avoid VAT reimbursement hassles (17% eek).

Keep in mind that the blades come in different flexibility ratings. The rating number is etched into the forte of the blade. My two blades are rated as 66 and 60, and they are flicky but not too much so. I think I saw blades that ranged from 70 (flicky) to 50 (stiff). I emailed LP to make sure I got the number to flexibility correlation right. In my earlier unedited post, I got them mixed up. Sorry.

Leon Paul seems to have a bunch of different maraging blades, so I don't think the ones sold by Santelli are flickmasters. I thought that American Fencing Supply only sold the LP Etoiles (non-maraging).

[ 08-14-2001: Message edited by: foodle ]

[DarkTransient]

Originally posted by foodle:
<STRONG>
Keep in mind that the blades come in different flexibility ratings. The rating number is etched into the forte of the blade. My two blades are rated as 66 and 60, and they are flicky but not too much so. I think I saw blades that ranged from 70 (stiff) to 50 (flicky). I may have gotten the number to stiffness correlation reversed, so you should ask about the flexibility ratings.
LP Etoiles (non-maraging).</STRONG>

Actually it is the other way around: 70 is flicky, and 50 is stiff.

I have a 75!! I'd say it is VERY flicky.

[foodle]

Originally posted by DarkTransient:
<STRONG>

Actually it is the other way around: 70 is flicky, and 50 is stiff.

I have a 75!! I'd say it is VERY flicky.</STRONG>

Yes, I emailed LP to check and you are right. I've edited my post above to reflect the correct number to flexibility correlation. Sorry about the mistake.

[weapon7]

Thanks for the info foodle.

Do all the maraging Paul blades come with flex rating or just the Flickmaster?

Also what is VAT? I am considering ordering from there wedsite if I cant find them in the U.S. But I am not sure how much of a pain it would be. Unfortunatly I will not be in England any time soon.


Thanks again I appriceate the help.

[neevel]

Value Added Tax-- it's a point-of-sale tax, based on the increase in value of a product over it's original cost to the producer or seller. A rough analogy for Americans would be to a sales tax. Items sold for export aren't charged it (just as items in the U.S. sold by mail/internet out-of-state aren't subject to the state sales tax). That's why buying from LP over the net would make it easier, since they simply wouldn't charge it in the first place to goods being shipped overseas. If you were buy from a store in the UK, they'd add it onto the price just like any other sale, and then you'd have to provide evidence that the goods had in fact left the country with you to get a refund.

-Dave

[weapon7]

Thanks Dave.

Do you have any info on ordering from them to the U.S.,ie shipping exchange rate that kind of thing.

[neevel]

Not for Leon Paul-- you can e-mail them about that. If the value of the goods is under $200, you probably won't need to pay any duties on it and it'll be delivered to your door. If duty is owed, you'll need to go to the Post Office to pay the duty and pick up the package. Go to:

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/impoexpo/impoexpo.htm

and look under "Internet Purchases" for info on what can be involved on the U.S. Customs end of things. Note that you _really_ want to make sure than the total value of any items purchased at once is less than $2000, or else you'll need to go through the process of getting a formal entry clearance for the goods.

-Dave