Best Body Cord

[ra2000a]

In your opinion, what do you think is the best two prong sabre body cord out there?

[Inquartata]

Honestly? It's the one you build yourself. Or at least assemble. I like the Allstar/Uhlmann for the plugs, but I use extension cord wire and buy the alligator clips at Home Depot ( or equivalent ). Get some shrink tubing or something for stress relief where the wire exits the plugs, too.

[ReverseLunge]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Honestly? It's the one you build yourself. Or at least assemble. I like the Allstar/Uhlmann for the plugs, but I use extension cord wire and buy the alligator clips at Home Depot ( or equivalent ). Get some shrink tubing or something for stress relief where the wire exits the plugs, too.

Can you post a picture of whay you made? How much did it cost you?

[Purple Fencer]

If you were to buy the parts from me:

2 prong plug: $10.00
3 prong plug: $10.70
Alligator clip: $2.00
Wire: Dunno...you can buy it in bulk from any hardware store, so the cost is minimal at best.

I could make body cords myself, but I don't trust my soldering skills for the clip. One thing I do NOT like with the Uhlmanns is the lack of a screw to hold the wire on the A line...if the solder jnoint breaks as it is now, you break contact....the screw is a good primary connection, with teh sold being a backup.

[CvilleFencer]

Short of making them yourself I am a big fan of the LP and the Negrinni cords, but with the two prong German style sockets. They are an interesting contrast and I can't say which is better as they come from very different angles and both are extremely good. The LP cords use a very thin and flexible high quality wire that lasts just forever and resists corrosion and breaking much better than the Uhlmann, but feels and moves like your weapon is not plugged in. The cause virtually no drag or pull on the weapon and I tend to forget I have it in until I start directing and whack myself in the face with it!

The Negrinni is big and thick. It has a very robust feel to it. They use some type of steel core cable that is very sturdy. You definitely know it is there however. It is not heavy really but it weighs much more than the LP and a bit more than the Uhlmann.

The only drawback to each is that the way they are secured into the reel can break or crack if you throw them, stomp them, etc. Not much of a drawback for most of us, and the smooth but offset pins in the reel end plug mean that you can hook up to any kind of reel you may find at local or club tourneys.

My vote is for the LP 2 prong German style no because I have ultimately concluded that is lasts loner than the Negrinni (I have not bee able to break either one and I am not competing in foil or saber these days) but because it is much cheaper than the Negrinni.

[jm_f]

Inquartata, how long do those body cords that you make last? I take it that you just replace the wire when it breaks and repairing is fairly easy for you, I bet you can get a lot of extension cord for the price you'd pay for a top quality body cord.

I have some soldering experience back in High School, maybe I should just make my own too. Do the plugs also break? I read that the LP 2-pin plug might have problems with the retaining clip, I take it Uhlmann plugs won't have this problem? If they would, what brand should I get?

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by jm_f

Inquartata, how long do those body cords that you make last? I take it that you just replace the wire when it breaks and repairing is fairly easy for you, I bet you can get a lot of extension cord for the price you'd pay for a top quality body cord.

Yes. I've yet to have one actually break. What happens is that with all of the tugging and stretching that goes on the end of the wire will pull out of one or both of the plug pins. I just have to open the plug and re-insert it ( or them ). The plugs I have are absolutely ancient, some of them---they are the first ones I bought when electric sabre came in. So far it's working out really well.

As for the retaining devices, I have one Allstar plug, the rest are assorted cheap copies, some so old I don't even remember whence they came. The basic design works well, you just have to get into the habit of checking them for tightness every so often; they do like to spring apart at the most inconvenient times ( and the tiny screw that holds them together make beelines for oblivion---sometimes the spring as well ).

[Coup de Grace]

I asked this question to a tournament armorer (after I killed my BG body cord) a few months ago. He absolutely recommended the Negrini body cords. He claims they very durable but affordable.

My 2 cents.

[KD5MDK]

Biggest problem I can think of with Negrinis is finding a supplier. Anybody know a good one cheaper than ordering from Italy?


Edit: I appear to be a fool, namely, posting before searching.
Amfence wants $43, as does thefencingpost.
thefencingdude wants $30, but site is (theoretically) not updated recently. Negrini.com wants 21EUR, but then there's intl shipping.

Hmm.

[LUDICROUS]

Fencing Post.

[jm_f]

Ya, Fencing Post seems to be the best bet for a Negrini cord.

[CvilleFencer]

Their is also a newer company called the Fencing Dude that has a lot of Negrinni stuff. I did not know that Saul carried Negrinni!

[Joe biebel]

Really! Check out the Favero 2 prong body cord (Absolute has them). I bought a couple of them for a student, and cut them down so it would not drag or trip (child is 4' tall) so I had a chance to assess all of the features. Design, fabrication, and materials are the best I've seen. Simple and outstanding.

[Coup de Grace]

Joe B-

What was the cost of the Favero cord?

CdG

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by Coup de Grace

Joe B-

What was the cost of the Favero cord?

CdG

From the vendor he mentioned:
http://www.absolutefencinggear.com/s...ae6374787dd2f7

$25

[CvilleFencer]

They are also available from the Fencing Post for $18.40 after the online discount. I have not used them myself, but I have sold a few and most people seem very happy with them. About the only negative comment I have heard is that the plastic clip is "bulky and plastic" but it is not like the metal ones never break. For the price they seem to be a great cord.

Funny thing about body cords. What one fencer sees as a strength (light and comfortable wire on the LP cords and the durable soldering on the Negrinni) are the same things that others see as a fault (perception that thinner wire is flimsy, when the Negrinnis finally do break you have to unsolder the pins). I think the moral is to look at the strengths and weakness' of each cord and decide what is more important to you.

I like the LP cords myself. I don't bang around my cords and I have yet to have one break so the comfort and the reliability of the solid pins appeals to me. I also have some Negrinni foil cords that are holding up very well but the soft insulation is not wearing well, although the wire itself is fine. I just hate having to cover the nicks with fencing tape. Go to a NAC, look at every one and realize that they each have strengths and faults and then decide what is better for you.

[hpfencing]

I have been very happy with my favaro epee cords that I bought from swordmasters

[jm_f]

Has anybody tried the Duellist body cords? It's priced around the same as the Favero cords.

[jm_f]

What's the LP 2 prong German like? They only mention it on their website. Is it better than the retention on the newer Uhlmann cords?