Poll: How long does your SABRE blade last?

[Craig]

And, not to keep the sabre fencers out of the fun of answering polls, please answer with how often you are replacing a blade. I took out fie vs. non-fie option as all should be using S2000 at this point.

[Inquartata]

There is no option for "All of the above". Hence---no, but I can't say it anymore...

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

There is no option for "All of the above". Hence---no, but I can't say it anymore...

I just averaged... I go through 5-6 blades per year, so each one lasts about 2 months... bing!

Sure, I only fence regularly 6 months of the year, but thankfully according to this poll, it doesn't change my result.

[KD5MDK]

Well, I bought 2 sabres in early February at a tournament. I used one for everything, and kept the other as my backup. The used one broke the weekend before last, so now I'm using the other one, and deciding when to buy my next blade. Probably at the big tournament in October, I expect my backup will last till then.

Gold colored StM blades, I suppose I ought to add.

[Ordway]

Mine tend to last quite a while - I was hemming and hawing over 9-12 months vs. over a year, but ended up picking over a year, since that's probably been the average. I do favor the stiffer blades rather than the more flexible ones (even within the S2000 specifications there's a range of flexibility), so maybe that has something to do with their durability. Or it could be luck.

[whtouche]

I just had the interesting coincidence of breaking within one month of each other all 4 blades that I bought at the kansas NAC. I didn't expect them all to break so soon in relation to each other, especially since I definitely used some more than others. But sabre blades definitely don't last as long as the other weapons; thankfully they're cheap

[Peach]

I tend to replace about three sabre blades a year. However, sometimes I replace them in the same weapon (in other words, my other blades last more than a year) or don't have to replace any at all. Some times I replace two in the same tournament.

[Welted 24/7]

Well, that really kinda depends on the blade. I've had one of my current three for over 6 months, but the other two I've had less than three and they seem ready to go at any moment. On average...I'd say every 4 months, I think. Sometimes a little bit less since I abuse the point a little too much at times.

This is of normal use, mind you, not counting when the stupid things explode.

[sabreur]

I have three weapons that I use interchangeably--I probably break about two blades a year.

Then, of course, you can always have those days where you break two in the course of an hour. It really depends on whether you execute cuts with your fingers (correctly), or from the elbow or shoulder. I once saw a notably ham-handed sabreur break three blades in the course of a ten-touch bout.

MR

[shinekomi]

I've only broken one blade so far and this was during a fencing demonstration.
However, I've had others break my blades for me. Thats what you get for lending your weapons out to other people

[Point_Left]

I have yet to have a blade break. (I bet I'll break one soon now that I have said that.) I have blades broken against my parries, and a coulpe of times I have almost been in the path of shrapnel from broken blades. I think the club ones last about 6 months. We aren't quite certain. Quite often the sabres magically "dissappear." (Fencer X borrows an electric for competition without telling the executive, and does not return it. Fencer Y-who is not a member of the club-borrows, and can't find a convenient moment to sneak back into the armory. Random person from a different club which is sharing our storage space sees one, figures it can't be worth much, and makes off with it. We're going to lock down the sabres next semester. And spraypaint the inside of the bells some revolting color.) My oldest sabre is over a year old. I want the blade to die, but it won't. Even begginers can't break the darn thing.