I've been an epeeist for roughly four years now, and I've finally broken enough of my random assortment of blades that I'm just going to replace the lot, and keep one type of blade. I've snapped numerous BG and SG blades, Leon Paul blades are too whippy for my taste, but my non-FIE StM blade has taken some insane bends and went right back to mostly right, and I've heard good things about the Vniti blades.
My question being, I can afford the FIE StM or Vniti blades, and I've heard that both are fitting to a hard parry/beat style of fencing. Leon Paul blades, for me at least, have been hit or miss, with the majority of mine being whippy as all hell. I'm not nearly good enough to need the FIE weapons, but durability and balance are major factors in my choice. Are the StM FIE blades balanced and stiff like their non-FIE counterparts? How well balanced are the Vniti blades? Are there significant differences in durability between the two?
In most cases the only difference between FIE and Non-FIE is essentially its durability.
In comparing StM and Vniti from what I know, the StM tends to be heavy and takes nasty bends that are hard to straighten. However, the are stiff. The Vniti however, are lighter and more flexible, I don't know much about Vniti though.
Go for Vniti. Awesome balance and they'll last forever as long as you fence reasonably properly.
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Between the otpions given I would suggest Vniti also. They are very durable, and are a good blade for the flick. The older Vniti blades tended to be fairly heavy but the newer ones seem very much of a sameness with most other blades as far as weight. They do tend to run to the whippy side however and flex more along their length than the StM blades. Not the same as an LP for sure, but more so than most. If you go with Vniti be sure to tell the dealer that you want a stiff one. I have had really good luck both price and service wise getting my Vniti gear through the Fencing.net store. I would strongly recommend them. They also sell StM blades, both FIE and non-FIE.
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I don't like the Vniti's. They are too flexible. The few I've tried are more flexible than the non-FIE StM.
Having said that, the FIE-StM are a little more tip heavy and little stiffer than the non-FIE StM. And they take a beating. They do take big bends, but I have yet to have a problem getting them straight again (even from a 45 degree backwards bend).
I've had a Vniti Blade I've used as my primary weapon for almost a year now.....every night in the club, every lesson, and about 5-6 competitions.
I literally have never, ever, ever had to straighten it for any reason. It's had the exact same slight bend that I put in it in the beginning. And it seems 70% of the time I'm fencing someone they're spending half the bout straightening their blade.
It's pretty whippy though. But always returns to the same bend no matter how hard I hit.
Whippy is still a relative term, are the Vniti blades as whippy as the LP blades? I still want some degree of flex, I'm not a fan of the rebar-esque blades of FIE days past. Well, neither are my teammates.
Keep in mind that all blades come in a wide range of flex. Also what people perceive to be whippy is very variable. If you are used to fencing with one of the pool que BF FIE blades (that are so stiff as to be illegal should anyone ever check) and then you go to a normal blade, the normal blade is going to seem very whippy to you! The LP blades tend towards being more flexible than most, but a lot of the perceived whippyness comes from the fact that they flex over more of their length than a traditional blade. Vniti also come in a range of flexibility, but the "average" Vniti is going to be a bit more flexible than the average BF for example. From what you are saying a Vniti blade on the stiffer side should be just what you are looking for. Just order from a quality vendor that is willing to give you what you want and talk with them. If you can't buy in person then ordering from a vendor that is willing to do this for you is very valuable.
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Just another lost soul saved by the (hit) First Church of EPEE!
I have 3-5 StM FIE blades that I purchased a few months back. The blades are nicely stiff, but a little heavy for my particular taste. I thought that I wasn't a BF snob when I purchased them, but apparently I am. I've used them for a few tournaments, and they seem pretty indestructable, but the handling of the blades is a little different from what I'm used to, so it drags down on my pleasure factor while fencing.
I'm a little miffed, because I hand selected the blades... and didn't think it was going to be an issue. The blades have been used just enough to break in with the perfect slight curve, but I've never had a bad bend in any of them. It really is a matter of taste.
I'm probably going to be selling these blades sometime soon, if anyone is interested... send me a PM.
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Can anyone comment on having two combinations of Epee blades as an option for short and longer competitione?
My son Erin and I were discussing the next epee to complement his STM electric, either going noticeably lighter but not LP light. These are non FIE grade blades.
The Vnity E blades look like a good possibility.
Both companies make a good looking blade, STM aesthetically is excellent for the cost particularly with the STM "colored" blade setup, a look generated by quick flame treatment without harming the blade.
STM
Vnity
The stiffer blade and weight works well with him, after 3 back to back 15 point rounds, weight get to be more noticeable.
He wants to try a few other club competitor's epees' next to see if any have a different finer feel or lighter effective for strategic reasons.
Placing 3rd in his very first novice tournament was an exciting awesome learning experience that is really motivating some new development of his style.
I am sure he will have multiple blades over time, this is more a competition related question.....thanks
- if you fall get up and brush off the dust and try again, or as Erin says-
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I strongly suggest having the exact same style of blade with the same setup, bend/cant and grip. For the weight, fence more or cross train. Having different blades, especially blades with a radically different feel can be detrimental to your fencing, especially at the newer levels.
There are reasons to have a blade setup a certain way counter to what you normally fence with, but even then they are usually not the best solution, just a shortcut that illistrates a hole in fencing knowledge that should be corrected and not covered up with a tool. That is more a philosophical opinion however and others disagree.
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I don't have a huge amount of experience with epee blades as I've only just started fencing that weapon, but many of the stm non-FIE blades I've used felt very good. The main thing I noticed about them is the HUGE variance between pieces due to the fact that they are hand-made. Some were 3/4 of an inch wide at the base and others were about 1 1/4 inch wide. This had a huge effect on ballance and handling.
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Just an aditional note: I've never used an stm FIE epee, but I have an stm FIE foil and my club has non-FIE stm foils. They feel very different. Don't assume that the FIE will feel similar to the non-FIE from the same manufacturer- especialy stm (becouse of the already wide variance from piece to piece). The FIE foil is much more flexible and noticably lighter. I like it a lot, but it tends to get angular bends in the middle.
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