epee blades

[peircer]

Ok, I've seen lots of posts about people with blade preferences, but I've got a specific question. I had found "the blade" for me, it was the Allstar Superstar (non-FIE) epee blade, I bought two of them last year and as far as I'm concerned they were perfection. Very light, very flexible. Well, since then I broke one and the other one has one of those kinks in it that tells you that it's time is coming, so I start trying to get another couple of them, but this last December, no one, and I do mean no one, had any of them. Then when they were avaible again I got a couple and they were so stiff I thought I was fencing with a piece of rebar. So I'm assuming that BF is making them differently (grrrrr) and now I don't like them. So what I'm looking for is does anyone know what happened to them, did they redesign that brand/model to be completely different? And second, who knows of a really light and flexible epee? When I mean light, I mean I think the Leon Paul's are bit heavy, but the right flex. I don't care about price, I just want one I'm happy with. Any suggestions?

[Gav]

I am probably going to start using Leon Pauls from now on. Not because of quality (I believe that Allstar are probably better quality) but because they suit my style. Also I live in the UK so getting parts should be a doddle. I would probably stick with whatever type of blade you feel comfortable with and you can easily get parts for. I like the bend you get with LP's (and for that matter Allstar) but I also like the weight. I use an LP blade with an Ulralight guard and Allstar grip!

But beware not all manufaturers parts are compatible and you may have to learn the arcane art of equipment matching!

[peircer]

Well, yeah, that's what I usually do. I cobble my weapons together from the parts I like. But I'm having trouble finding a "new" epee blade that I like. I prefer something very light and flexible. The Leon Pauls are a little heavier than I like. The "new" Allstar blades are very light, but they're also really, really, really stiff. I actually do fairly well with them, mostly because I don't tire my hand out flicking with them and just hit them with the point. But I digress...

[neevel]

Pierce--

Wait till your next NAC (South Bend should be easy enough for you to make), then go rifle through the vendors' stocks of BF blades and find the ones that feel good to you. Even with the best blades, there can be a substantial variation in stiffness from one to the next and, except for Leon Paul's FIE blades, manufacturers don't make an attempt to sort their output of a given model by stiffness. When you purchase by order, it's a random draw as to what you're going to get, unless the person filling the order knows you and your preferences well.

For example, I like BF blue maraging foil blades, but I prefer the softer end of the spectrum for that model-- when I stocked up for the season in Sacramento, I sorted through about 15-20 of those blades to find 3 I liked best. The variation between the stiffest and softest was easily noticeable.

-Dave

[peircer]

Well Dave, I agree with you in theory, but I got 4 of the "new" BF blades, 2 Allstar and 2 Tripplette and they were all really stiff. I can't stress how stiff these blades are, I'm honestly worried that I'm going kill someone accidently. Not to mention they break really easily because they're so stiff. Besides... What do I do for blades until Janurary? I need a little more flex in my blades, because I'm a flicker in both weapons...

Peircer

[veeco]

You can try the France Lames FIE. They are light and flexible. I hate them though, because I like my blades to be stiff...

[peircer]

Actually, I have tried the France Lames FIE, but they're soooo flexible that they're not really practical for me. They flex down the entire length of the blade, instead of one point along the blade, so any sort of flicking attack takes too long and the opponent can parry. Not to mention they're so noodle-like the point control sucks.

Ok, now I sound a little whiney...

[gesk]

Well since we are on epee blades and flex. How about Vniti ? Personally i have not tried it but I did read from previous posts that it is of a nice flex and all.

[neevel]

Pierce--

Do you pre-curve your blades? Pre-training a smooth curve into a blade does wonders for encouraging a proper flexion. It also helps with landing flicks, but even if you veiw flicks like the Taliban view thong bikinis, pre-curving blades is a good idea. The first BF FIE Blues I purchased were a pair of overage ones from Triplette that I picked up for $40 each-- they were very stiff at the start. Once I got a curve trained into them (I use the loop on a 1 5/8" combo wrench to do it) they felt much more pliant. The 1 cm limit for epee blades is plenty enough to get a decent, smooth curve. It may take a while working at it with really stiff blades to get the curve to take (it did with those two foil blades), but it'll be worth it. Additionally, blades often soften up a bit as they get 'broken in', and the pre-trained curve helps make sure that occurs without any odd kinks or S-curves developing.

As for other blades, gesk mentioned Vniti, which have a smooth, middle-of-the-road flexibility and exceptional durability, but are heavier than BF blades. They're also FIE-only, so they may be a bit beyond what your price-range is. Another option is Prieur blades; Zivkovic carries them, and they're about the same weight as BF blades, tending to be more flexible. Keep in mind that, even given the variance from blade-to-blade, BFs are generally on the stiff side-- you may have lucked out and gotten a pair of really soft ones, and the new ones are more in line with what's normal for them.


-Dave

[peircer]

Yes, I definitly pre bend my blades, I want the first curve the blade takes to be intentional, but it doesn't really matter with these. I don't think they'll ever loosen up enough to flick with, they just _don't_ bend. I'll show them to you next time I see you. I've used the vniti foil blades before, their epee blades sound a little heavier than what I'm looking for (no, price isn't an issue with me for equipment), but the prieur sounds promising. I'll order one and see what I think. I'm wondering about those first two Allstar blades I had to begin with. I'm starting to suspect that maybe Blade didn't send me the Allstar Superstar and send me the econo Allstar blade instead, and that's why they're more flexible.

Speaking of Blade, I saw that there was a post on their chat room from a former employee saying the owner was nuts, and an unscrupulous businessman, etc. Has anyone heard anything like that anywhere else. I actually like Blade, so I'm kind of concerned.

[neevel]

Wouldn't be the first time Blade's sent someone the wrong item on an order-- they once sent me the wrong kind of _scoring machine_ from what I'd ordered-- not just a different model, but a different manufacturer. I've a suspicion that they sometimes will ship you a substitute when an item you've ordered is out of stock and hope you don't notice, rather than just letting you know that it's out of stock and asking you if a substitute is OK beforehand.

-Dave

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by peircer:
<STRONG>I need a little more flex in my blades, because I'm a flicker in both weapons...

Peircer </STRONG>

oh! I think I see the problem.....

see, the problem is you are trying to flick in epee. don't do that. problem solved.

-m

[peircer]

right....

[Gav]

Trying different blades is definitely the way to go - you find so much difference between blades from the same manufacturer. Also blades lose their integrity (probably the wrong term but you get the picture) as they mature so don't worry if they don't flex too much. Don't flick too much either most decent epeeists can pick you off easily. I'll stop there I don't want another "flick" war.

LP blades come in a light weight version have you tried those?

I use their Ultra light guards but I'm thinking of going back the Super strong lights as they give epees a better balance - we'l see.

[peircer]

No, I didn't know that LP came in a lighter version, I should give one of those a try.

Actually, you do have a point about not flicking much in epee, I had my best performance ever at a tournament not long ago, I got third, earning my C with those can't-flick epee blades. Didn't flick once all day. So there might be something to that.