Buying New Lames-Need Help, thank you!

[aisha]

Hello All,

I am a fencer and a fencing Mom. I have 12 & 14 yr. old boys, and we have been fencing for 7 mos. They are supposed to start their tournaments in mid-Jan, so now I am trying to get their kit together and it hasn't been easy. We live in a small town, so it is shopping by internet/phone, advice from the club/coach, and some ebay auctions. My big concern right now is the wide variety in prices for lames. One one hand, my boys are growing so fast, that I hesitate to spend for the best, although I know their lames should be SS. I am uncertain about this Ohm biz, although I have looked it up on the net. One reply from a dealer about their lames was: "competition quality meets all requirements for USFA competition /stainless steel Lame material, model "INOX",--The electrical resistant between any two points of our Lame material not greater then 4 Ohms, for USFA test "not be more then 5ohms". So we have 1 ohms reserved for future use of the vest and its qualification for competition".-I don't know what that means. Is this good? and what is "INOX" anyway? A brand? a type? His lames are 50$ and yet I see others described as good that are 100$. Thanks for your help!!!

[prototoast]

First, you'd get more of a response posting this in the armory folder... perhaps a mod can move it there. Overall, there is a huge difference in prices and in quality amongst lames. Stay away from Blue Gauntlet lames because they don't provide enough durability for the price. Generally, Uhlmann/Allstar provides the best quality (though you'll hear a lot about Leon Paul from this site), though they are a little expensive. Probably the best bargain for growing kids would be either a triplette lame or a JL lame from the fencing post. Both are of acceptable quality, and should probably last until they outgrow them. Once they stop growing, it's definitely worth investing in a top quality lame.

[FoilyGeezer]

Good advice so far. I'm in a similar situation with two boys who are 3 years apart and growing. We opted to get them inexpensive lames from Physical Chess. Decent enough quality and we figure with adequate care they should outlive the kid's need for them. That said, the care part is a BIG BIG factor on how long a lame will last, and a cheap lame treated with TLC will outlast a good lame treated like a t-shirt more often than not.

[Purple Fencer]

I was going to mention the JL lames until the kids are grown, but someone beat me to it!

Although it's not a lame question, you might want ot look over a primer I wrote for new fencers. Go to http://www.homfencing.com and scroll just below the logo to a link saying "going to your first tournament, read this."

Trust me...you;ll thank me!

[aisha]

Thank you for all of your help.

I did move part of my earlier message to the armory section.

And-it just so happens that I discovered the Signorelli article earlier, printed it up, and showed it on Mon. to a student in one of the classes I help teach who also fences at our club. He was impressed, too. It's a great article and I plan on taking it to the club for others to read.

Best of fencing to all and to all a good night!!


Aisha

[Purple Fencer]

Thank you for all of your help.

I did move part of my earlier message to the armory section.

And-it just so happens that I discovered the Signorelli article earlier, printed it up, and showed it on Mon. to a student in one of the classes I help teach who also fences at our club. He was impressed, too. It's a great article and I plan on taking it to the club for others to read.

Best of fencing to all and to all a good night!!


Aisha

Thank you. I've gotton a lot of compliments on it over the last four years or so...I've always said that if I leave no other mark in fencing than that guide, I'll he happy. Where'd you find it before...and what salle are you at? (just so I can see where the guide's being seen)

[aisha]

I found your paper trolling the net-I don't remember using a specific link. I think I was looking up fencing equipment and found your host site. I believe I have managed to look up nearly every possible site having anything to do with fencing; it's the researcher in me. So when I found this gem, I knew I had to print it up and show our fencers.

I'm at The Point Fencing Club in Champaign, IL (usually called Urbana-Champaign because of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). We are also the home for any university fencers & coaches as there is no longer a fencing team in Chambana (another nickname)-fencing is just too cerebral for our alumni with $$$. After all, we still have to live among the cornfields with "Chief Illiniwek" as our school mascot.

Our club however, has a great director, coaches, and fencers of all skill levels (including lots of sharp younger kids) and I expect great things to come down the road. We are growing rapidly. And, we are able to take advantage of bigger metro offerings-we regularly get coaches down from Chicago (we're 2 1/2 hrs. south) to give saber workshops, bouting clinics, etc.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. BTW-this is the only discussion forum I've ever participated in. I've found it quite welcoming.


Best,

Aisha

[Purple Fencer]

Ahhh...way cool!

Feel free to pass it around anywhere you need to...just remember...the pdf version on homfencing.com is the up to date version.