BF "white" and BF "blue" FIE foil blades

[millsisland]

What's the difference?

There was a thread on this quite a while back but I can't locate it.

Thanks!

Mills

[larkmaj]

Fencing.net FAQ

Specifically:

What are the differences among the colored Blaise Freres Maraging blades?


BF Blue blades are the most flexible, most resilient, and the lightest. They are also the most expensive. They, though, are much more likely to take a radical bend if it deals a hit that has enough force behind it, for whatever reason.

BF White blades are much more stiff and a little heavier. They are slightly more succeptible to the everyday bends, but when they take a big hit, they're much less likely to take a radical, deforming bend.

BF Gold blades are a happy average of the qualities of the above two.

The colors of the blades are a result of the gaseous environment they are tempered in. The colored coating is also helps to prevent oxidation of the underlying metal. Other information can be found in the Fencing.Net Equipment Review Section

[mrbiggs]

It was in noodle's FAQ.

http://www.fencing.net/forums/fencin...on/t17665.html

Under "Armouring Questions"

[millsisland]

Thanks for finding the thread.

Any other opinions?

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

yeah, its bull. BF's blues are lighter, but I've seen some that are very very stiff. I've also seen whites that are whippy. The BF whites tend to last a bit longer though.

[larkmaj]

Good, that's what i got.

[millsisland]

So, in looking at various vendor sites, I find:

White- don't see them billed as such. Is this the FIE-Maraging Super BF?
Just steel, no bluing or colored finish? Slightly cheaper than the blue.

Blue- FIE-Maraging Super BF blue?

Gold- I've seen an FIE maraging BF blade billed as an "Ultra" and a bit more expensive than the other two. Is this the "gold"?

Are the white blades substantially heavier than the blue? I'm looking for longevity, but not at the cost of the blade being uncomfortably heavy.

Thanks!

Mills

[JEC]

Weight is not substantially different, but the colouring process probably makes the blue and gold blades more springy as they need to be tempered longer.

Once they make the BF blades, they select blades of different grades, which then are stamped and sold by the different vendors (Triplette, Uhlmann, etc). I think that Uhlmann white BFs FIE are the most durable blade. You can buy them from Fencing post or other vendors, or order direct from Germany.

[millsisland]

Weight is not substantially different, but the colouring process probably makes the blue and gold blades more springy as they need to be tempered longer.

Once they make the BF blades, they select blades of different grades, which then are stamped and sold by the different vendors (Triplette, Uhlmann, etc). I think that Uhlmann white BFs FIE are the most durable blade. You can buy them from Fencing post or other vendors, or order direct from Germany.

Thanks, JEC-

I'm going to have a friend pick up several foil blades at Leipzig and I just want to make sure we both know what I want.

Sticking with the Uhlmann sounds like good advice. I'll take it.

Mills