Rainbow Blade?

[latenight]

found this on the swordmaster site:

Allstar "Rainbow" Blade $125

What the hell is a "Rainbow" blade?!?!?!

[Sciurus Rex]

It's a blade that can be used against any opponent, regardless of race, creed, sexual preference, or religion.

[Mr. Foilist]

[quote]Originally posted by latenight:
<strong>found this on the swordmaster site:

Allstar "Rainbow" Blade $125

What the hell is a "Rainbow" blade?!?!?!</strong><hr></blockquote>

It has a special coating on it, I believe, that reflects light in such a way as to make the blade look like.....an oil slick in water? You ever see that? It seems to have streaks of color againt a black background when looked at from a certain angle. Well, anyway, that's what they look like.

I don't know about you, but I would never pay $125 for a blade. Get them for much cheaper, even with shipping, from <a href="http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de" target="_blank">http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de</a>
I know, I've plugged this site twice already but, I assure you, I don't work for them. I just really like the way they do business and the price is definitely right.

[latenight]

I use PBT, so I'm not going to buy one. What you descrbed sounds like a bluestar.

Maybe they just decided to get creative with the name on their site.

[neevel]

It's a badge-engineered (as all Allstar blades are) STM blade from Ukraine. STM uses especially colorful finishes for their blades-- in this case, 'rainbow' is an accurate description of the multicolored iridescent finish (they also have an iridescent blue and a genuinely gold-looking gold). In the case of the blue and gold blades, the finish is genuinely cosmetic (i.e., it's not used to distinguish between different models they way BF does). I'm not sure if the rainbow finish is also cosmetic, or if it signifies a different model.

STMs seem to be decent blades-- I picked up a couple of their maraging foil blades (in blue) from one of the Russian team cadre for $32 apiece to try. They're fairly light, and not point-heavy. You could probably find one cheaper that's not Allstar-branded.

-Dave

[latenight]

Who else carries them?

[damianip]

[quote]Originally posted by latenight:
<strong>Who else carries them?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think Merlin in the UK have them. I don't know of anyone in the States.

Paolo

[damianip]

[quote]Originally posted by Mr. Foilist:
<strong>

&lt;snip!!!&gt;

I don't know about you, but I would never pay $125 for a blade. Get them for much cheaper, even with shipping, from <a href="http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de" target="_blank">http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de</a>
I know, I've plugged this site twice already but, I assure you, I don't work for them. I just really like the way they do business and the price is definitely right.</strong><hr></blockquote>

BTW that price was for an entire weapon. The blade is $75.00.

From Langenkamp I think it's about 73 Euros.

Paolo

[Mr. Foilist]

[quote]Originally posted by damianip:
<strong>

BTW that price was for an entire weapon. The blade is $75.00.

From Langenkamp I think it's about 73 Euros.

Paolo</strong><hr></blockquote>

The most expensive maraging weapon they have is a BF maraging weapon. Complete, it's $69.46 US.

[damianip]

[quote]Originally posted by Mr. Foilist:
<strong>

The most expensive maraging weapon they have is a BF maraging weapon. Complete, it's $69.46 US.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Funny, 'cause if you go here, you'll see that they have many blades which are in the 70 Euro range.

<a href="http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de/html_en/shop/export/c67.html" target="_blank">http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de/html_en/shop/export/c67.html</a>

Here are many weapons in the 100 Euro range. Unless the Euro took a huge dive today, that would put them over 69.46 USD.

<a href="http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de/html_en/shop/export/c59.html" target="_blank">http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de/html_en/shop/export/c59.html</a>

Maybe you're just looking at foils.

Paolo

[Mr. Foilist]

Yes, I was talking about foils. I'm a foilist. Why would I care about you epee people?


Go to the price list for their complete electric epees. The most expensive one is 108.91 Euros. That includes the VAT. Without shipping, it's still cheaper than in the US. But, I wouldn't recommend going to them if you're just buying one weapon. The shipping charge will make it about the same as an American sold weapon. But, combine it with some other stuff (Like a jacket, or knicks (FIE or not) and you'll still save a bunch.

[ 04-17-2002: Message edited by: Mr. Foilist ]</p>

[peircer]

Heay Dave, two questions:

[quote]Originally posted by neevel:
<strong>It's a badge-engineered.

In the case of the blue and gold blades, the finish is genuinely cosmetic (i.e., it's not used to distinguish between different models they way BF does). -Dave</strong><hr></blockquote>

First one. What's badge-engineered? I don't think I've ever heard of it.

And second, I was wondering about the difference between blue and gold BF blades. How did you find out that one's supposed to be more flexable than the other. Is that something you've just noticed over the years, or did you talk to someone in the know?

[damianip]

[quote]Originally posted by Mr. Foilist:
<strong>Yes, I was talking about foils. I'm a foilist. Why would I care about you epee people?


Go to the price list for their complete electric epees. The most expensive one is 108.91 Euros. That includes the VAT. Without shipping, it's still cheaper than in the US. But, I wouldn't recommend going to them if you're just buying one weapon. The shipping charge will make it about the same as an American sold weapon. But, combine it with some other stuff (Like a jacket, or knicks (FIE or not) and you'll still save a bunch.

[ 04-17-2002: Message edited by: Mr. Foilist ]</strong><hr></blockquote>


Yes, why would anyone pay anything for a foil? You can't do much damage with a foil.

I agree, Langenkamp is a great thing. One would hope that they could pressure the US importers on Allstar and Uhlmann to stop gouging.

Paolo

[damianip]

[quote]Originally posted by peircer:
<strong>Heay Dave, two questions:



First one. What's badge-engineered? I don't think I've ever heard of it.

And second, I was wondering about the difference between blue and gold BF blades. How did you find out that one's supposed to be more flexable than the other. Is that something you've just noticed over the years, or did you talk to someone in the know?</strong><hr></blockquote>


Badge engineered. Someone else makes it(possibly to their specs) we put our name on it.

Allstar and Uhlmann blades are largely BF blades, with, apparently some STM blades thrown in.

There are all that many blade forges in the world.

Blue versus gold: In my experience, gold seems more flexible and lighter, blue much stiffer and slightly heavier. Anyone else?

Paolo

[neevel]

[quote]Originally posted by damianip:
<strong>


Badge engineered. Someone else makes it(possibly to their specs) we put our name on it.

Allstar and Uhlmann blades are largely BF blades, with, apparently some STM blades thrown in.

There are all that many blade forges in the world.

Blue versus gold: In my experience, gold seems more flexible and lighter, blue much stiffer and slightly heavier. Anyone else?

Paolo</strong><hr></blockquote>

Allstar is also selling Vniti blades as well as STM (labeled as Ecostar VN and Ecostar SM, respectively). They just stamp their name on the side, in addition to the manufacturer's stamp.

Paolo's right about BF blades. The gradation I've been told is, on average, white = stiffest, blue = bit less stiff, and gold = least stiff, and that's been borne out by my experience. There is a certain amount of blade-to-blade variation, though.

-Dave

[damianip]

[quote]Originally posted by damianip:
<strong>


Badge engineered. Someone else makes it(possibly to their specs) we put our name on it.

Allstar and Uhlmann blades are largely BF blades, with, apparently some STM blades thrown in.

There are all that many blade forges in the world.

Blue versus gold: In my experience, gold seems more flexible and lighter, blue much stiffer and slightly heavier. Anyone else?

Paolo</strong><hr></blockquote>Meant to say:

There are not all that many blade forges in the world.

[ 04-17-2002: Message edited by: damianip ]</p>

[Purple Fencer]

I think those are the Uhlmann blades I carry...hmmmm. Everyone seems to like the cool colors, tho

Neevel, check me on this...6 blade forges...Leon Paul, France Lames, Blades Fresere, Vniti, Lutansk, and JL (the Chinese one).

Now I KNOW I screwed up those names, so corrections ot the spellings would be cool, as well.

BTW, Derek Cotton said the JL forge is noit approved by the FIE. What's that mean?

[peircer]

[quote]Originally posted by neevel:
<strong>
Paolo's right about BF blades. The gradation I've been told is, on average, white = stiffest, blue = bit less stiff, and gold = least stiff, and that's been borne out by my experience. There is a certain amount of blade-to-blade variation, though.
-Dave</strong><hr></blockquote>

I was wondering where you heard that from, the only place I've ever seen it is from you.

I think I read on one of the other posts that BF was making blades stiffer than normal last year. That explains those epee blades I bought last year. I thought I was going kill someone by accident with them, they were unbendable almost.

[D'Artagnan1673]

I've got both gold and blue blades. What real advantages do you get from various types of stiffness. I've never noticed it myself, and no one has ever explained it to me.

[foodle]

[quote]Originally posted by D'Artagnan1673:
<strong>What real advantages do you get from various types of stiffness.</strong><hr></blockquote>

At least one issue (that you probably don't care about) is flickability/flickiness. While a good flicker can flick with basically any stiffness blade, a more flexible blade requires less effort to flick. However, the downside of a very flexible blade is that you may suffer some in pointcontrol, since the point may lag where you want the point to be.