Sheet Epee Question

[Jim]

Gentlemen & Ladies,
>
I own a company which manufactures blades for use by classical fencers
and re-enactors. One of our blades is based on a sheet epee I was
shown about five years ago. The design of the original though left
something to be desired. I have recently come up with what I believe
to be a far superior design which will be rugged and will allow the
blade inserts to be removed and replaced, somewhat reducing the cost.
I am therefore considering mass producing epees for the olympic fencing
community.
>
Is someone currently manufacturing and selling sheet epees? I have
searched the web with no luck. Would there be a market for such
blades? Our blades will likely be more expensive than the imports, but
should last considerably longer. They will not be made of maraging
steel and will therefore not be F.I.E. legal.
>
Jim Koch

[Dirk Goldgar]

"Jim" <alchem@en.com> wrote in message
news:1116478726.756432.161700@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com
> Is someone currently manufacturing and selling sheet epees? I have
> searched the web with no luck. Would there be a market for such
> blades? Our blades will likely be more expensive than the imports,
> but should last considerably longer. They will not be made of
> maraging steel and will therefore not be F.I.E. legal.
>>
> Jim Koch

I'm not sure what you mean by a "sheet epee". Are you talking about the
Leon Paul "folded sheet-metal" blades, which I use, and like very much?

--

Dirk Goldgar

(to reply via e-mail, remove NOSPAM from address)

[R. Mattes]

On Wed, 18 May 2005 21:58:46 -0700, Jim wrote:

> Gentlemen & Ladies,
>>
> I own a company which manufactures blades for use by classical fencers
> and re-enactors. One of our blades is based on a sheet epee I was
> shown about five years ago. The design of the original though left
> something to be desired. I have recently come up with what I believe
> to be a far superior design which will be rugged and will allow the
> blade inserts to be removed and replaced, somewhat reducing the cost.
> I am therefore considering mass producing epees for the olympic fencing
> community.
>>
> Is someone currently manufacturing and selling sheet epees? I have
> searched the web with no luck. Would there be a market for such
> blades? Our blades will likely be more expensive than the imports, but
> should last considerably longer. They will not be made of maraging
> steel and will therefore not be F.I.E. legal.

Well, then you will not be producing for the olimpic fencing - or any kind
of international fencing. At least over here in ol' Europe it wouldn't
even be legal to use your blades in any kind of tournament (France/Italy
Germany...).

Cheers Ralf Mattes

> Jim Koch

[DHCJr]

Gentlemen & Ladies,
>
They will not be made of maraging
steel and will therefore not be F.I.E. legal.
>
Jim Koch

To be FIE does not mean they have to be maraging steel. You can have non-maraging steel blades. The requirement is durability. If yours is as durable as you say, they could be FIE. Check the requirements in the rule book in the appendix.

[Martin J. Green]

"Jim" <alchem@en.com> wrote in message
news:1116478726.756432.161700@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Gentlemen & Ladies,
>>
> I own a company which manufactures blades for use by classical fencers
> and re-enactors. One of our blades is based on a sheet epee I was
> shown about five years ago. The design of the original though left
> something to be desired. I have recently come up with what I believe
> to be a far superior design which will be rugged and will allow the
> blade inserts to be removed and replaced, somewhat reducing the cost.
> I am therefore considering mass producing epees for the olympic fencing
> community.
>>
> Is someone currently manufacturing and selling sheet epees? I have
> searched the web with no luck. Would there be a market for such
> blades? Our blades will likely be more expensive than the imports, but
> should last considerably longer. They will not be made of maraging
> steel and will therefore not be F.I.E. legal.

You do realise of course that if it's not "FIE legal" it couldn't be used by
the "olympic fencing community", merely only low level competitions.

I'm not entirely clear what you mean by sheet epee (but then I'm a
foilist) - do you mean it's a sheet of metal that is bent into a V, rather
than being forged with a V shape already in place? If so, I believe Leon
Paul's (http://www.leonpaul.com) lightweight epee is manufactured in this
manner. Not 100% certain though.

[Jim]

Dirk Et Al,
>
Leon Paul. That's the design. Thanks for the help in this matter.
>
Jim Koch, Alchem Inc. "http://www.alcheminc.com"