Foil Question

[WhipLash]

ok decide to start a new thread, got a few questions here.

first, uhlmann has the BF MAR but they don't have it in blue or gold. so anyone ordered coloured BFs from them before? also, i've heard of gold BF (gofence.com) but nowhere else.

second, any general opinions on how the BF perform as compared to StM? cos the coloured StM actually costs more than a BF, yet is listed as mid-line!
What abt the viniti? i'm living in singapore so can't test try and no $$ to discriminately order, so i need your comments. thanks

Third, my 2 prong socket keep shorting on the bell cos i press it down during fencing. so was wondering if it's possible to buy a manual felt guard instead of electric one, and cut a slit in it for the socket.

thanks all!

ps: have anyone used the Golubitsky-Pro Maraging FIE sold by leon paul? any reviews/comments? the review thread on this is kinda contradictory
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[DHCJr]

That takes some pressing. First most of the connector should be in contact with the guard. Only one part should not and that is the smaller plug. For it to be touching means the connector has been improperly bent. There is an easy solution. Place a small piece of tape where that plug touches. Press down to see where that is. It won't take much.

[WhipLash]

thanks man.

actually i've already done the tape solution. works but after a while the socket will poke holes in it and i have to replace the tape. so thought of getting a manual pad with my next purchase. oh, anyone tried the LP pro-range pad? i think it looks unusual, and i've never used anything other than felt so wonder how it'll feel?

any opinions on the blade issue?

[LUDICROUS]

Can't see any point to a pro range pad. Is it so hard to pull up the pad yourself? Why spend your OWN money to make an armourer's day that much easier?

General consensus seems to be BF's won't last as long, but give best "balance and point control". I've flexed/examined friend's BF blades, and the difference in weight isn't that much to me at all. However, our resident coach has a BF white from cartel that is heaaaavy.

I like StM's. I made an earlier post (in your thread, I think?) analysing the StM, so I won't regurgitate it here. If you have a crapload of money, go BF, otherwise I'd go with StM. Besides, is there ANYTHING cooler than a bright metallic blue StM blade? StM supposedly lasts a decent amount of time(I've had mine since November 04, fencing 3+ times a week, PLENTY of bad hits, and it has maybe a millimetre of downward bend - of course, it could just snap tommorrow!). Vniti's last forever, look awesome, and the new ones are quite flexible.

[WhipLash]

ah, thanks for your advice. i'll pass on the pad then. no, it wasn't my thread, but i've read the post. here is the problem: the stm actually costs more than the bf! i'm currently using a stm 2000, been using it for 2 years or so...still going strong but i've heard so many good comments on the bf and vniti so banging myself on the head trying to decide which to get. bf, stm, g-pro, vniti? argh!

[Decadence]

i have the pro range gurad pads on 3 of my weapons. I like em for the looks but thats pretty much all its good for. If you get bellguard to bellguard much than its not for you. Its pretty much just a really thin piece of clear plastic. And about the manual pads, my friend has that. I really dont like the idea b/c i find it hard to get under the socket when working on the wire but whatever floats your boat. Uh...ive never had any experience with the BF's but the STM maraging is real nice. Compared to the Vniti, Its similar weight, a little stiffer, vniti is a bit more flicky, more point control with the STM, vniti is more durable. Have fun choosing bro.

Oh yea...if you buy the STM from the fencing post its no where near as expensive as the BF or any others.

[WhipLash]

ah yes, but that's the problem with living in Singapore... fencing post doesn't ship to Singapore. i'm using the stm mar now and i echo your statement that it is very nice. are u sure it's the same weight as the vniti? heard the vniti is heavy! if it's the same weight than i'll get the vniti...or maybe another stm haha

[LUDICROUS]

ah yes, but that's the problem with living in Singapore... fencing post doesn't ship to Singapore. i'm using the stm mar now and i echo your statement that it is very nice. are u sure it's the same weight as the vniti? heard the vniti is heavy! if it's the same weight than i'll get the vniti...or maybe another stm haha

Fencing Post say they'll ship to me buddy, they'll definitely ship to you. Singapores closer! FP also have great prices.

[WhipLash]

oh, the woes of a Singaporean. i already asked them but they won't ship to Singapore. over here, uhlmann dominates the market, and for any other manufacturer u'll have to import stuff. i'm getting sick of my german point. screws getting bashed after juz a month! thought of changing to LP GT but have to rewire the blade. oh, any comments on the vniti? thought it's heavy but some ppl say that it's abt the same as a BF and STM. weird. anyone tried the G-Pro?

[Decadence]

old vnitis were heavy new ones are much lighter and whippier. What you can do if you have any friends or family living in a different country. You can get it shipped to them and have them ship it to you.

P.S.-if you go with the vniti, the cheapest place to get it is blue-gauntlet.

[fencerchica]

You asked for opinions on the Golubitsky-Pro... I have two and absolutely love them. They pretty much deliver what LP describes - stiff and stable through the forte out to maybe the last third or so of the middle, and then fairly whippy out in the foible, with the center of gravity low in the forte close to the guard. It seems to me they give solid parries and good point control with just enough whippyness out in the foible to let you whip or flick in hits if you like, or to sometimes bend very nicely around your opponent's parries. They're also really durable (at least they have been so far), recovering from bad curves with a lot of resiliency.

[WhipLash]

Thanks all for the replies.

old vnitis were heavy new ones are much lighter and whippier. What you can do if you have any friends or family living in a different country. You can get it shipped to them and have them ship it to you.

i'm relatively new to fencing, and i've not tried many blades. actually so far i'm only familar with the stm maraging. so perhaps you could compare the vniti to it in terms of weight and stiffness. i've thought of doing that cos my bro is now in the US, but it turns out that with the double shipping rates for a vniti, i could get a BF from uhlmann shipped direct.

They pretty much deliver what LP describes - stiff and stable through the forte out to maybe the last third or so of the middle, and then fairly whippy out in the foible, with the center of gravity low in the forte close to the guard. It seems to me they give solid parries and good point control with just enough whippyness out in the foible to let you whip or flick in hits if you like, or to sometimes bend very nicely around your opponent's parries. They're also really durable (at least they have been so far), recovering from bad curves with a lot of resiliency.

sounds really good! however what is making me hesitate is the high shipping and cost of the blade, and also i've read in the reviews that the blade was received with a bend downwards AND a bend upwards. also, it is not really "proven" compared to vniti, bf and stm. thanks for your info though. my friend is thinkin of trying it, so i'll pass on your comments to him, and if he orders i can try it out myself!

[arkady_tsep]

I just recently bought a fully wired G-Pro M FIE. I've only gotten to use it one day so far, but I think it's going to be one of my favorites. I'm able to have solid parries that control my opponent's blade as desired, beat attacks that don't leave my point somewhere out in left field, but yet flexible enough at the end to have a nice little action to play with. I can't speak as to durability just yet, but so far after a day of extensive and hard use, it's performed rather nicely. Ask again in a few weeks, and we'll see where it stands.

P.s. Leon Paul doesn't charge you shipping costs at all if you're in the US or Canada so you don't have to worry about that. Not even if it's just small items that don't add up to much. I bought mine with all the good bells and whistles for $177 and it was at my door in VA in about 6 days after placing the order.

[WhipLash]

I just recently bought a fully wired G-Pro M FIE. I've only gotten to use it one day so far, but I think it's going to be one of my favorites. I'm able to have solid parries that control my opponent's blade as desired, beat attacks that don't leave my point somewhere out in left field, but yet flexible enough at the end to have a nice little action to play with. I can't speak as to durability just yet, but so far after a day of extensive and hard use, it's performed rather nicely. Ask again in a few weeks, and we'll see where it stands.

P.s. Leon Paul doesn't charge you shipping costs at all if you're in the US or Canada so you don't have to worry about that. Not even if it's just small items that don't add up to much. I bought mine with all the good bells and whistles for $177 and it was at my door in VA in about 6 days after placing the order.

well if u noticed my location i'm living in singapore. means lp charges exorbitant shipping, and it is cheaper to buy uhlmann. FP doesn't ship here. how does the g-pro compare to stm/bf/vniti? these 3 seems to be the most popular so far. perhaps there'll be a new "king"... the G-PRO!