Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Fencergrl · 07-20-2005, 01:36 PM

I broke my cheap epee blade last night, and I am thinking of replacing it with a better quality blade.

My coach got a good deal on some rainbow FIE blades made in Russia. I looked at hers and it felt nice and stiff. Not quite as good as my BF, but I'm thinking about it.

Anyone have a comments?

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 07-20-2005, 01:52 PM

If your BF was FIE, it was likely the best quality blade on the market. Get either the Leon paul, the vniti or the BF. Anything else is a shoe down.

drseudo · 07-20-2005, 02:13 PM

If the 'rainbow FIE blades made in Russia' you describe are StM's, then by all means go for it. I've had mine for over a year now, and they're great.

neevel · 07-20-2005, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

I broke my cheap epee blade last night, and I am thinking of replacing it with a better quality blade.

My coach got a good deal on some rainbow FIE blades made in Russia. I looked at hers and it felt nice and stiff. Not quite as good as my BF, but I'm thinking about it.

Anyone have a comments?

The rainbow blades are StMs. They feel very nice when new, but are prone to taking and holding kinks- no matter how diligently you straighten the blade, it'll keep bending at that spot. OTOH, if it's a really good deal you're just looking for a back-up weapon, it could be worth it. If you like BFs, check with vendors to see what sort of price you could get on a Lammet (LM) FIE blade- they're a bit heavier than BFs but are of similar stiffness and hold their shape better than the StMs.

Fencergrl · 07-20-2005, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

If your BF was FIE, it was likely the best quality blade on the market. Get either the Leon paul, the vniti or the BF. Anything else is a shoe down.

My good blade is BF, FIE.

My cheap practice blade broke, so anything would be an upgrade.

Rather than replace it with another cheap blade, I thought I would get something a little better and wanted to know if anyone knew anything about the rainbow blades out of Russia.

howtobrew · 07-20-2005, 02:30 PM

The StM rainbow blades are good blades (nice feel), but they only last about 6-12 months. They soften with age and start taking some fierce kinks before they break. I have had two in the last year+ of fencing once a week. But they are very inexpensive.
I really like the LP nonFIE blades. They tend to be softer to start with than an StM (for example) but they hold their temper very well and last for years. I have two of them and they are my main weapons. I think they are a good compromise between flickability and point control.

Fencergrl · 07-20-2005, 03:09 PM

I've heard a lot of good things on the forum about LP's non-FIE blades. I think I'll order one or pick one up at my next tournament as my third blade.

In the meantime... I think I might take the rainbow if the price is right... although I don't like the idea of a blade that gets nasty kinks.

I know it's the summer season and I have no upcoming tournaments. I have 8-10 weeks before I start training hard again... my BF would be fine...

I feel driven to replace my practice blade because I just don't want anything to happen to my favourite blade... so I'm thinking of going with the rainbow for no other reason other than convenience.

misha · 07-20-2005, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

I've heard a lot of good things on the forum about LP's non-FIE blades. I think I'll order one or pick one up at my next tournament as my third blade.

In the meantime... I think I might take the rainbow if the price is right...

hmmm: 1 BF, 1 StM, 1 LP

If you are taking fencing epee seriously I would recommend that
all your blades should be the same manufacturer/type.
If you break a blade during a DE in a competition and then pick up
totally different weapon... it may cost you....

FYI: StMs are made in Ukraine not Russia

.

Fencergrl · 07-20-2005, 04:57 PM

I agree, you make a good point. If I find that the LP, doesn’t feel right or priced right, I’ll pick up another BF blade.

Being fairly new to fencing (2 years) I want to try a few blades to get a "feel" for what I really want from an epee blade. I’m willing to throw a little bit of money around while I decide on which one I will be “my” blade.

As a compromise, I’m picking blades that feel similar to each other. The difference for me will be how they hold up and how badly they hold kinks. The Russian rainbow (I don't know if it was StM or not) felt similar to my BF, but so did my cheap Chinese practice blade.

My practice blade broke after 1-1/2 years of fencing (1-4 times a week). It never developed any really bad kinks. I was not unhappy with it’s performance. It bent easier than my BF; the quality of the machining wasn’t as good. My BF just feels better, slightly stiffer and is a psychological boast in tournaments because of this.

I enjoy fencing and spend a lot of my free time doing it. I am realist in knowing I will never be an elite level fencer as I started the sport in my early 40’s. So changing blades in a competition is not really going to make that much of a difference in the whole scheme of things.

RebelFencer · 07-20-2005, 05:04 PM

vnitis are very nice. I have one on my main weapon and love it to death.

tallntender · 07-20-2005, 05:10 PM

Leaving issues of longevity aside (since they're often related to the fencer, rather than the blade alone), the FIE blades from different makers have different performance characteristics. Some are stiff, some are whippy. Some assume a gentle curve, some stay pretty straight.

As you mature in fencing, your style and preferred blade character may change. I'd keep an open mind. Many of us can't ignore cost differences, but using a blade that complements your game will give better results than employing one that does not, even if it's considerably cheaper.

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 07-20-2005, 05:19 PM

heres a rough characteristic chart... it vary's somewhat though.

Name Stiffness Weight Durability

Prieur blade - Very Stiff - Ultra-Light - Low
Vniti - Whippy - Heavy - High
Stm - Stiff - Medium - Low
LP - Moderate - Ultra-light - High
BF - Stiff - Light - Medium
Dinamo - Moderate - Light - Medium

These are just my observations, I've owned 4 dinamo's, 1 LP, 1 BF, 1 Prieur, 1 vniti and two Stms.

Zilverzmurfen · 07-20-2005, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

heres a rough characteristic chart... it vary's somewhat though.
< --- >
These are just my observations, I've owned 4 dinamo's, 1 LP, 1 BF, 1 Prieur, 1 vniti and two Stms.

I disagree somewhat, I find Dynamos and StM's to be very similar in all aspects.

I would say they both have Moderate Stiffness, Medium Weight and Good Durability.

The latter dependant on my personal fencing style as I very rarely break blades. I have a Dynamo from the late 80's (before I took up fencing) and a StM stamped 1996. Both of them still holding up. My most recent blade is stamped 2003, I believe...

Fencergrl, if you can get a good price on the StM 'rainbow' I suggest you get it. They may not be the best blades, but they're not the worst either.

jjrenaud · 07-20-2005, 05:39 PM

personnaly i would choose BF and after Vniti, dynamo and stm are equal for me, a little bit to soft and not the top for durability. LP really to soft.
The advantage with Bf is a good balance, with Vniti a very good durability.

For the prieur blade, light but very poor for durability.

i agree with Misha, for your blade try to have the same, the feeling of the blade is different between BF,LP,stm

RebelFencer · 07-20-2005, 05:42 PM

That's strange, my vniti isn't too whippy. It's more stiff with some slight whippyness. It's very consistant with the vniti foil I got last year, which was firm when I need to parry or make a straight attack, but whippy enough to allow slight flicks and such.

misha · 07-20-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

BF - Stiff - Light - Medium

I disagree, my comments on Epee BF FIE blades ...

.

JohnK · 07-20-2005, 06:08 PM

My Vniti FIE is VERY whippy. Really happy with it overall, heavily used, not the slightest kink in it anywhere, really never have to straighten it at all, total contrast with a Prieur FIE that got a horrible sideways kink the first time I used it.

Hard for me to judge weight but the Vniti doesn't seem THAT heavy; have the lightweight bellguard on it and it seems pretty light overall.

misha · 07-20-2005, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

I am realist in knowing I will never be an elite level fencer as I started the sport in my early 40’s. So changing blades in a competition is not really going to make that much of a difference in the whole scheme of things.

You started at the perfect age!
You have several years to learn the game
and when you will be 50
you can qualify for the Veterans National Team!

Just ask Peach

.

Lemberg · 07-20-2005, 07:27 PM

Fencergrl, if you do decide to go for an StM blade, whether rainbow or any other colour - your best (and perhaps only) bet in Vancouver is Victor Gantsevich - Dynamo's head coach who gets them directly from Mr. Stankevich (St. in the StM). You can contact Victor at (604) 214-EPEE

VELISARIOS · 07-21-2005, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

I broke my cheap epee blade last night, and I am thinking of replacing it with a better quality blade.

My coach got a good deal on some rainbow FIE blades made in Russia. I looked at hers and it felt nice and stiff. Not quite as good as my BF, but I'm thinking about it.

Anyone have a comments?

My sugestion is to take a Maralgine blade. It is strong.