recommended saber lames

[edwin012290]

i'm having a hard time deciding which lame to buy. i'm thinking either BG, Absolute, or LP's. but would an LP saber lame be better than that of BG's or Absolute's? i might consider LP because of its price...i mean it MUST be more durable than other lames... its like $219. would it be worth the price?
do you know of any better lames with reasonable prices?

[prototoast]

I would not buy a BG or Absolute sabre lame. I would go with either LP or Uhlmann/Allstar. They will last much longer, and will more than justify the extra cost.

[whtouche]

Edwin, the reason LPs sabre lame is so much more expensive is the materials used in it's production. BG and Absolute brand lames are woven with copper thread which is not only weaker than the stainless steele thread used in Leon Paul's lame, it will also rust and corrode leading to a much shorter life span. Stainless steele lames are easily worth the investment over copper lames.
Other good options are Uhlmann and allstar. I have an uhlmann currently and I really like it. I have owned many different kinds of lames, but never a leon paul. They say that it is woven with more metallic thread than the uhlmann or allstar lames leading to a longer life.
It should at least last as long, and certainly longer than anything copper you would get.

[Craig]

moving to armory section

[noodle]

club bought some of the JL stainless steel lames from fencing post.
so far, so good. very nice for the price ($90).

[Ordway]

My own experience with the BG/Absolute brand lames is that they are an extremely good value for the price. For a first lame, I think it's a very reasonable option, particularly if you make an effort to keep it clean and dry so it lasts longer.

I do think that the Uhlmann/Allstar lames last longer, but I'm not sure they last *twice* as long, despite being twice as expensive. Personally, those are the brands I wear (Uhlmann previously, Allstar for the new lame I just bought), but what makes *me* pay the extra money is not how long they last, but the fit, which is significantly better than in the house brands, for me, a petite woman. (I don't know how the cut compares for men's lames.)

[rcmatthews]

Ok, I live in extreme humidity. This makes the lames wear out really quickly. I have had an absolute lame for about 3 months and it already is showing signs of corrosion around the cuffs and neck. I hang it up to dry after every time I use it, and it gets used about three times a week. My question is, how much longer will an Uhlmann/allstar/leon paul last? My plan is to get a nice, expensive lame to only use for competitions so I don;t have to be afraid of failing a conductivity test. However, would it be worth it to also have a nice lame for practice as well?

[Craig]

Ok, I live in extreme humidity. This makes the lames wear out really quickly. I have had an absolute lame for about 3 months and it already is showing signs of corrosion around the cuffs and neck. I hang it up to dry after every time I use it, and it gets used about three times a week. My question is, how much longer will an Uhlmann/allstar/leon paul last? My plan is to get a nice, expensive lame to only use for competitions so I don;t have to be afraid of failing a conductivity test. However, would it be worth it to also have a nice lame for practice as well?

I tended to always have a second lame for practice and keep my good lame for competitions. That way I know that it will pass! If I could get a deal on a nicer lame for practice, I would, otherwise I just cycle my old competition lame into the practice lame and buy a new competition lame.

Craig

[fencergal33]

Ok.....I almost never jump in the armory section...but I have to this time.

I bought an Infinity lame in February of 2000 (mostly because it's more breathable, and I sweat like a man). I have to say that it's awesome. I've bathed it twice in 5 years. They don't corrode at all, and it's still in fantastic condition. I think it was well worth the $210 I paid for it, since I've gotten 5 years out of it, I live in a fairly humid place, and I compete in quite a few tournaments every year.

My $.02

[i'mnottelling]

I have one of the BG/Absolute sabre lames. It's going on 4 years of fencing 2 or 3 times a week and will still pass. I got an infinity lame at the last JO's. It's way more comfortable than any stainless steel lame.

Is this your first lame? Are you fencing a lot of days out of the week?

If you want to drop the cash go for the infinity.

i'mnt

[KD5MDK]

The JL lames are supposed to be nice for the price, although I haven't used one myself. For the absolute best lame you can buy, when I asked my coach (and seen a lot of other high end people use) is Estoc, available from Swordmasters. I have a Allstar (it was a birthday present) but the recommendation was pretty clear.

[oiuyt]

Only problem with recommending infinity lames is that they are no longer in production (no source for the fabric).

I have an Uhlmann lame that I've used regularly since 2001. I have another which I used from 1999-2001, at which point it became my back-up (error with the airbrush when adding the "USA", not a problem with the lame itself). Both still pass armoring control.

When I eventually need to purchase another I will likely go with another Uhlmann.

-B

[Inquartata]

Wow, I had not heard that no more Infinity lames were going to be made. That sucks...

I have one, and it's performed very well---and was cheaper than German, Hungarian or English lames when I bought it, due to the currency exchange rates at the time. It is "different" though. And the color is ugly.

JL lames are as mentioned a pretty good value for the money. They even come with a mask-cord tab that complies with the rules, something which Uhlmanns at least have been known not to do. However, Uhlmanns are very durable. With Infinity gone that will be the next lame I buy, once my current one wears out.

I am not familiar with Leon Paul or PBT lames. You might look into American Fencers. I probably would not recommend Triplettes---if you get a good one it will be fine, but apparently quality control has been erratic. Plus they aren't very well tailored ( though you can get them customized, of course ).

[edwin012290]

thanks for your help you guys. i think i'll go with the LP sabre lame.

[i'mnottelling]

Only problem with recommending infinity lames is that they are no longer in production (no source for the fabric).

-B

What!? No longer in production? @#%& !!!!

i'mnt

[whtouche]

I can't talk from personal experience, but a clubmate of mine has an estoc lame and seconds the opinion above - that it's the best available. He now not only uses the estoc lame, but also exclusively uses their glove/overglove combination.
I used to enjoy infinity lames until mine randomly died about a year or less after I bought it. Nothing I've tried has been able to bring back conductivity, and I've heard of other people having similar problems with them.

Are the JL lames really stainless steele? I checked out whatever vendor it is that sells them at nationals (fencing post, amfence?) and looked at one, it looked like copper and the person behind the table told me they were copper not stainless steele. Looked very similar to a blue gauntlet lame. Does JL make a copper and a stainless steele version?
This wouldn't be the first time I've experienced a lame claimed to be stainless steele turning out to be copper..

[fencergal33]

I used to enjoy infinity lames until mine randomly died about a year or less after I bought it. Nothing I've tried has been able to bring back conductivity, and I've heard of other people having similar problems with them.

Really? The guy who checked mine at the Miami NAC made a comment about how they almost never fail...... (Like I said, I've had mine for 6 years.)

[Inquartata]

Unlike regular lames, which tend to develop nonconductive patches with wear, Infinities work fine until they just die completely. Or so I've heard. Maybe there's planned obsolescence at work there.

They have a reputation for lasting alot longer than year, though. Depending on frequency of practices.

JLs are copper. They are still a good value for the money.

[penguin_2000]

So, what happens if you order a Lame from the Inifinity site?

[KD5MDK]

It may be a matter of whether or not they have your size in stock.