FIE epee blades

[glowstix]

ok, i don't exactly own any right now but i've seen a few and notice that there's a coating or finish to the ones i've seen that gives it the purple blueish colour. what is that anyway?? whats the purpose of it??

[Zilverzmurfen]

It's just colour created with "elektrolys". (Not sure what this is called in english, but I'm sure the words very are similar.)

Purpose...for fun and looking nice?
Can't think of any other purpose really, but have a feeling DHCJr might know...

[prototoast]

I can't give much info on the details, but putting that finishing tint is not directly connected to an FIE blade. There are blued non-fie blades and fie blades that are not blued.

As far as I know, it's just a finishing process put on the blade, and I don't believe it makes any real difference, though I'm not entirely sure.

[DJ Apostrophe]

the blueing allows you to tell the difference between blades (i.e. BF "Whites" and BF "Blues" (the blues are slightly more flexible)), also, the bluing can be a rust inhibitor, this is particularly true on FIE-N blades, but even to some extent on Maraging Steel. I have an FIE StM blade that is not colored and it has several spots of rust, while my BF blues have no rust. It may be due to the differences in brands, but I am inclined to think it is because of the bluing.

-w

[neevel]

Like DJ said, it's mainly just to permit models to blades that would otherwise look identical to be told apart. From my experience the finish doesn't make much of a difference in terms of rust resistance, though you're less likely to notice small rust spots on a darker colored blade. Maraging steels are rust-resistant (though not completely rustproof) due to their high nickel content. Variance in the precise composition of the steel used by different manufacturers will affect just how rust-resistant the blade will be-- StM FIE blades seem to be more prone to small rust spots than BFs of any color, for example. Since the StM FIE-N blades aren't of maraging steel, they're more susceptible to rusting than maraging FIE blades.

-Dave

[Alain]

Blue or coloured blades have been 'dipped' in a special coating which, apart from making them more expensive, is supposed to give them more strength and durability.

It makes a big difference: I don't like blued blades, because in my opinion they don't have what I call a good 'memory' - if you get a big kink in a blued blade, it is nearly impossible to get rid of, whereas normal (white) blades are a lot more pliable. I guess it comes down to personal preferance, though, and I admit that blue (or gold, or green...) blades look cool.

I hope this helps.