Fencing Shop Australia

The gentleman who runs the Amateur Fencers Support Group in Brisbane
has some cheap but reasonably decent Chinese gear. The type of mask
he sold me apparently passed the FIE punch test but because the bib
is not Kevlar cannot be approved. My foil lasted nearly 2 years of
regular use before finally cracking.

This site contains a list of suppliers in Australia too.
http://www.sca.org.au/rapier/suppliers.htm

Gary R. Schmidt wrote:

> In Melbourne (Richmond), Aladdin, <http://www.aladdinsports.com.au>

Just be prepared to pay high prices, wait a month for your order to
arrive, never have your calls returned and don't forget to badger
constantly.

I purchased from them twice, as did a friend of mine and unfortunately
the experience was the same each time.


--
We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.

VoidRoamer wrote:

> The gentleman who runs the Amateur Fencers Support Group in Brisbane
> has some cheap but reasonably decent Chinese gear. The type of mask
> he sold me apparently passed the FIE punch test but because the bib
> is not Kevlar cannot be approved. My foil lasted nearly 2 years of
> regular use before finally cracking.
>
> This site contains a list of suppliers in Australia too.
> http://www.sca.org.au/rapier/suppliers.htm
A nice resource, but it is very out of date.

> Gary R. Schmidt wrote:
>
>
>>In Melbourne (Richmond), Aladdin, <http://www.aladdinsports.com.au>
>
>
> Just be prepared to pay high prices, wait a month for your order to
> arrive, never have your calls returned and don't forget to badger
> constantly.
>
> I purchased from them twice, as did a friend of mine and unfortunately
> the experience was the same each time.
>
>
Really? I've had no problems with them, except for to odd problem with
their suppliers (e.g. Leon Paul sending a gross of FIE blades rather
than the standard ones ordered, stuff like that). Of course, I'm meaner
and uglier than the lot of them put together, and I can just rock up and
annoy them whenver I need or want to. (And I know their home addresses...)

Cheers,
Gary B-)

--
__________________________________________________ ____________________________
Armful of chairs: Something some people would not know
whether you were up them with or not
- Barry Humphries

In rec.sport.fencing on Sun, 02 May 2004 22:07:42 +1000
Gary R. Schmidt <grschmidt@acm.org> wrote:
> VoidRoamer wrote:
>
>> http://www.sca.org.au/rapier/suppliers.htm
> A nice resource, but it is very out of date.
>

What's missing or wrong in it?

I know the maintainer, be good to have more up to date info.

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone wrote:

> In rec.sport.fencing on Sun, 02 May 2004 22:07:42 +1000
> Gary R. Schmidt <grschmidt@acm.org> wrote:
>
>>VoidRoamer wrote:
>>
>>
>>>http://www.sca.org.au/rapier/suppliers.htm
>>
>>A nice resource, but it is very out of date.
>>
>
>
> What's missing or wrong in it?
>
Victorian clubs - VRI has moved to:
15 York St Richmond VIC 3121
ph: (03) 9417 0659

and (at least) one new club:
Melbourne Fencing Club Inc
243 Bridge Rd Richmond VIC 3121
ph: (03) 9421 2155

I have a feeling that some of the "bloke brings gear in" suppliers are
no longer at the addresses referenced. Can't prove it, as I don't have
a valid set of addresses myself.

I just scrolled to the bottom and saw "Last Modified: 12th August 2003",
it is actually pretty accurate for such a long time between checkups.

Cheers,
Gary B-)

--
__________________________________________________ ____________________________
Armful of chairs: Something some people would not know
whether you were up them with or not
- Barry Humphries

>>>In Melbourne (Richmond), Aladdin, <http://www.aladdinsports.com.au>
>>
>>
>> Just be prepared to pay high prices, wait a month for your order to
>> arrive, never have your calls returned and don't forget to badger
>> constantly.
>>
>> I purchased from them twice, as did a friend of mine and
>> unfortunately the experience was the same each time.
>>
>>
> Really? I've had no problems with them, except for to odd problem
> with their suppliers (e.g. Leon Paul sending a gross of FIE blades
> rather
> than the standard ones ordered, stuff like that). Of course, I'm
> meaner and uglier than the lot of them put together, and I can just
> rock up and
> annoy them whenver I need or want to. (And I know their home
> addresses...)

Thats fair. It would be much easier to turn up in person but I have to
order interstate and with respect to that, they don't have the best
reputation around here.

VoidRoamer wrote:
> The gentleman who runs the Amateur Fencers Support Group in Brisbane
> has some cheap but reasonably decent Chinese gear. The type of mask
> he sold me apparently passed the FIE punch test but because the bib
> is not Kevlar cannot be approved. My foil lasted nearly 2 years of
> regular use before finally cracking.
>
Not to rain on anyone's parade and admittedly I don't
know a thing about the difficulties of obtaining supplies
down under, but my experience with chinese made equipment,
though limited, strongly suggests staying away from it.

Can anyone counter my basic instincts on this issue
with other observations? Noting that Void seems to
feel he got a lot of usage out of his foil.

Jonathan

In rec.sport.fencing on Mon, 03 May 2004 22:38:32 -0700
Jonathan Jefferies <jonathanjefferies@alamedanet.net> wrote:
> Not to rain on anyone's parade and admittedly I don't
> know a thing about the difficulties of obtaining supplies
> down under, but my experience with chinese made equipment,
> though limited, strongly suggests staying away from it.
>
> Can anyone counter my basic instincts on this issue
> with other observations? Noting that Void seems to
> feel he got a lot of usage out of his foil.

So far, the chinese masks being sold by a local supplier are standing up
well to being thumped hard by heavy rapiers.

However, I dunno anyone who does more than a few hours a week
fencing who is using them, and I don't know of any more than a year old.

But so far they are standing up well and I haven't seen any that are
failing, or have the padding or bib or stitching die.

Zebee

On Tue, 04 May 2004 05:57:55 GMT, Zebee Johnstone <zebee@zip.com.au>
wrote:

>In rec.sport.fencing on Mon, 03 May 2004 22:38:32 -0700
>Jonathan Jefferies <jonathanjefferies@alamedanet.net> wrote:
>> Not to rain on anyone's parade and admittedly I don't
>> know a thing about the difficulties of obtaining supplies
>> down under, but my experience with chinese made equipment,
>> though limited, strongly suggests staying away from it.
>>
>> Can anyone counter my basic instincts on this issue
>> with other observations? Noting that Void seems to
>> feel he got a lot of usage out of his foil.
>
>So far, the chinese masks being sold by a local supplier are standing up
>well to being thumped hard by heavy rapiers.
>
>However, I dunno anyone who does more than a few hours a week
>fencing who is using them, and I don't know of any more than a year old.
>
>But so far they are standing up well and I haven't seen any that are
>failing, or have the padding or bib or stitching die.
>
>Zebee

I had a Chinese mask until recently. Definitely not stainless steel,
under the paint job. After maybe three years of 10 hours per week, the
mesh was getting decidedly loose around the front crease, around mouth
level. The elastic across the back had lost all elasticity, which was
good because the tiny tabs of Velcro were shot too, so the ends were
tied in a knot. The lining was holed in a couple of places - worn
through -, the trim on the bib was ragged, and the folded metal strip
that covered the rear edges of the mesh was coming loose. Outside of
those minor blemishes, it was good as new...

Robert Smith

In news:4097340e$0$19876$2c56edd9@news.cablerocket.co m,
Jonathan Jefferies <jonathanjefferies@alamedanet.net> Quoth The Raven:
> VoidRoamer wrote:
>> The gentleman who runs the Amateur Fencers Support Group in Brisbane
>> has some cheap but reasonably decent Chinese gear. The type of mask
>> he sold me apparently passed the FIE punch test but because the bib
>> is not Kevlar cannot be approved. My foil lasted nearly 2 years of
>> regular use before finally cracking.
>>
> Not to rain on anyone's parade and admittedly I don't
> know a thing about the difficulties of obtaining supplies
> down under, but my experience with chinese made equipment,
> though limited, strongly suggests staying away from it.
>
> Can anyone counter my basic instincts on this issue
> with other observations? Noting that Void seems to
> feel he got a lot of usage out of his foil.
>
> Jonathan

I'm not sure of the origin of this story, nor what mask he was wearing, but
I just heard today a fencer was stabbed through his mask, through his eye
and into his brain, killing him. surely if someone suspects the quality of a
mask, they would definitely replace it and only wear top grade items of
protection?

--
On the other hand, you have different fingers

Take out the CUSSIN to reply to me

"Zebee Johnstone" <zebee@zip.com.au> wrote in message
news:slrnc9ec1q.7df.zebee@zeus.zipworld.com.au...

> So far, the chinese masks being sold by a local supplier are standing up
> well to being thumped hard by heavy rapiers.
>
> However, I dunno anyone who does more than a few hours a week
> fencing who is using them, and I don't know of any more than a year old.
>
> But so far they are standing up well and I haven't seen any that are
> failing, or have the padding or bib or stitching die.

Do you have a trade name for them?

--
William Black
------------------
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords
is no basis for a system of government

Highlandish wrote:
> Jonathan Jefferies <jonathanjefferies@alamedanet.net> Quoth The Raven:
>
>>VoidRoamer wrote:
>>>The gentleman who runs the Amateur Fencers Support Group in Brisbane
>>>has some cheap but reasonably decent Chinese gear. The type of mask
>>>he sold me apparently passed the FIE punch test but because the bib
>>>is not Kevlar cannot be approved. My foil lasted nearly 2 years of
>>>regular use before finally cracking.
>>
>>Not to rain on anyone's parade and admittedly I don't
>>know a thing about the difficulties of obtaining supplies
>>down under, but my experience with chinese made equipment,
>>though limited, strongly suggests staying away from it.
>>
>>Can anyone counter my basic instincts on this issue
>>with other observations? Noting that Void seems to
>>feel he got a lot of usage out of his foil.
>>
>>Jonathan
>
>
> I'm not sure of the origin of this story, nor what mask he was wearing, but
> I just heard today a fencer was stabbed through his mask, through his eye
> and into his brain, killing him. surely if someone suspects the quality of a
> mask, they would definitely replace it and only wear top grade items of
> protection?
>
Well, that has happened in the early days when the masks were
more like window screen. I would hesitate to attribute this to
chinese made masks without specifics. For instance - as reported
here before - I find the Leon Paul plain iron masks last very well.
The reason being that the steel strands are woven with deep bends
that lock the strands in place. As far as I'm concerned the elastic
bands and bib lining (the interior not the outside) are sacrificial.
They're bound to go a in year or so. For instance Uhlmann elastic
and velcro are definitely inferior as far as I'm
concerned and Uhlmann is in the first rank of good gear (by my standards).
So I'm not particularly concerned about safety when that goes. I've
refurbed Leon Paul Masks that are three-four years old with good
results, i.e. in terms of safety. The iron bits rust but that can
be dealt with using a wire brush on a bench grinder. And paint is
paint though I think epoxy paints would be preferred. But my basic
question which Zebedee responded to is how well does the iron stuff
stand up to long term usage? I feel three years is a minimum amount
for a mask to last. Yet I'm sure that the top players replace theirs
yearly - the beating a mask takes when it's used daily is critical.

Sounds like the chinese stuff hasn't been on the market long
enough for us to really know. And too if you're going to be
in the game and not just recreationally then buying better
grade equipment makes a lot more sense. But I have seen
coaches/salles buy beginner equipment based on cost and
wondered about the implications.

My apologies for rambling.

Jonathan

In news:4097f274$0$19880$2c56edd9@news.cablerocket.co m,
Jonathan Jefferies <jonathanjefferies@alamedanet.net> Quoth The Raven:
> Highlandish wrote:
>> Jonathan Jefferies <jonathanjefferies@alamedanet.net> Quoth The
>> Raven:
>>
>>> VoidRoamer wrote:
>>>> The gentleman who runs the Amateur Fencers Support Group in
>>>> Brisbane has some cheap but reasonably decent Chinese gear. The
>>>> type of mask he sold me apparently passed the FIE punch test but
>>>> because the bib is not Kevlar cannot be approved. My foil lasted
>>>> nearly 2 years of regular use before finally cracking.
>>>
>>> Not to rain on anyone's parade and admittedly I don't
>>> know a thing about the difficulties of obtaining supplies
>>> down under, but my experience with chinese made equipment,
>>> though limited, strongly suggests staying away from it.
>>>
>>> Can anyone counter my basic instincts on this issue
>>> with other observations? Noting that Void seems to
>>> feel he got a lot of usage out of his foil.
>>>
>>> Jonathan
>>
>>
>> I'm not sure of the origin of this story, nor what mask he was
>> wearing, but I just heard today a fencer was stabbed through his
>> mask, through his eye and into his brain, killing him. surely if
>> someone suspects the quality of a mask, they would definitely
>> replace it and only wear top grade items of protection?
>>
> Well, that has happened in the early days when the masks were
> more like window screen. I would hesitate to attribute this to
> chinese made masks without specifics. For instance - as reported
> here before - I find the Leon Paul plain iron masks last very well.
> The reason being that the steel strands are woven with deep bends
> that lock the strands in place. As far as I'm concerned the elastic
> bands and bib lining (the interior not the outside) are sacrificial.
> They're bound to go a in year or so. For instance Uhlmann elastic
> and velcro are definitely inferior as far as I'm
> concerned and Uhlmann is in the first rank of good gear (by my
> standards). So I'm not particularly concerned about safety when that
> goes. I've refurbed Leon Paul Masks that are three-four years old
> with good
> results, i.e. in terms of safety. The iron bits rust but that can
> be dealt with using a wire brush on a bench grinder. And paint is
> paint though I think epoxy paints would be preferred. But my basic
> question which Zebedee responded to is how well does the iron stuff
> stand up to long term usage? I feel three years is a minimum amount
> for a mask to last. Yet I'm sure that the top players replace theirs
> yearly - the beating a mask takes when it's used daily is critical.
>
> Sounds like the chinese stuff hasn't been on the market long
> enough for us to really know. And too if you're going to be
> in the game and not just recreationally then buying better
> grade equipment makes a lot more sense. But I have seen
> coaches/salles buy beginner equipment based on cost and
> wondered about the implications.
>
> My apologies for rambling.
>
> Jonathan

no problems, I enjoy a good opinion. I have heard that Leon Paul is probably
the best you can buy commercially when it comes to weaponry, I'm glad to
hear that their protective gear is superior too!

--
Save a tree, kill a beaver

Take out the CUSSIN to reply to me

> > This site contains a list of suppliers in Australia too.
> > http://www.sca.org.au/rapier/suppliers.htm
> A nice resource, but it is very out of date.

Not anymore! :-)

As luck would have it I was in the process of updating the page. The new
page is now up and running.

Richard Cullinan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naturally, you must expect me to attack with Capo Ferro.

In article <bs6qb0p41l481vp5bpr9plq4n0hslgvube@4ax.com>, Chris Zakes
<moondrgn@austin.rr.com> writes:

>I suppose that's possible, but his mask would *still* have had to pass
>inspection before the tournament. Would a rusty, substandard mask pass
>inspection at the World Championship? I'm not familiar with how strict
>these things are.

Some inspections are not up to the standards applied by American armorers at
events held in the US. I have watched some.

Although, if it was really rusty, I would doubt it would pass. But sometimes
defects are not really that apparent.

You must remember how much energy is stored in a bent blade. In this case it
would all be released essentially instantly as the mask is penetrated. That is
why some horrible accidents have happened when bowed blades break and drive the
broken end through even FIE clothing. Also why the emphasis on maraging blades
and how they aren't supposed to have sharp ends when they do break.

Bill Hall