Help Me Build The Perfect Epee

[Gwhite]

My oldest girl has switched from foil to epee, and I want to get her an electric weapon for Xmas. She's 15 and pretty thin, so I want to keep the whole weapon light. I know some people will cringe, but I'm thinking of trying the Leon Paul blade because it's supposed to be a light blade & durable. I realize this requires a special pommel as well. Other ideas in the blade department would be welcome.

I'm mostly wondering about all the other bits. I'm used to fencing foil, and have always used German points with success, but I have no idea about epee gear. I want to build one up from scratch so I can repair it when necessary, so I have the luxury of mixing & matching hardware. Stuff I'm wondering about:

Guards: For foil, I like the large Negrini aluminum guard, because it's light (but rugged) & keeps my knuckles from getting whacked. My guess is that epee guards are all as big as is legal, but what about metal resistant to dents with good reinforcing around the blade hole? I've seen some that looked pretty beat up, but I don't want to sacrifice too much weight.

Tips: Who makes good tips, and should I get a set of shims & a weight? I have a shim for foil, and it may have an epee section as well. It's about 15 years old, and I have no idea if any rule changes may have made it obsolete. What spares should I get?

Sockets: I'd like a good, reliable socket, that has a positive latching mechanism for the cord. This may also mean I have to get a specific cord plug to work well with the socket, but such is life. I think I've seen little plastic clips, and a pivoting wire device with a ball.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[larkmaj]

From what I've heard the LP tip is one of the best for epee around. Also, supposedly if you get the full lightweight setup for the LP epee it should have the proper balance (including the special grip). I haven't tried it out yet but I will probably get it as soon as I have the money. The main problem I've heard about the LP is it vibrates when it's hit hard, and it's harder to get power behind it due to its light weight.

[telkanuru]

~BF Blue FIE blade.
~LP self-lubricating tip
~LP clear bell pad
~Vniti one-piece guard
~Uhlmann visconti grip (Med. or Small)
~Uhlmann Socket

[RebelFencer]

-Vniti FIE blade
-LP tip
-Vniti one piece guard
-Uhlmann visconti grip
-Uhlmann socket

[CvilleFencer]

-BF FIE, LP FIE or Vniti FIE blade (it really comes down to preferance, they are all great blades)
-Vniti Titanium bell (just the best)
-LP PTFE coated epee point
-Plush, puffy leather bell pad (what is up with the clear ones anyway? They have all the finger protection of a ziplock bag!!!)
-German (uhlmann/allstar) socket

If this is a French grip as it sounds, the Schermasport metal/leather French grips with the larger of the two peice pommels are really good. Some people really like the LP Carbon Fiber grips also and they really help keep the weight down.

If you want to buy one fully assembled and not fuss with it overmuch get an LP FIE with the appropriate grip and tell them to use the lightweight everything. I do feel the best weapons are kind of like the best stereo systems however. Built from the best in each component.

[El Chucko]

Here's my setup, which is pretty light and very reliable and durable:
-Vniti FIE blade
-Vniti one-piece bellguard
-Leon Paul ultra grip (best grip on earth. for epee, remove some of the enamel where glove does not cover, for ground)
-Uhlmann socket
-leather bellguard pad
-outside hex pommel nut
-French tip (you could probably do better with German or screwless)

[noodle]

~BF Blue FIE blade.
~LP self-lubricating tip
~LP clear bell pad
~Vniti one-piece guard
~Uhlmann visconti grip (Med. or Small)
~Uhlmann Socket

i agree with this, though i've never tried the LP tips before. you could use, instead, german ones and also be happy.

also, i like the absolute sockets nowadays. very stirdy.

[HDG]

For my part, get the LP lightweight socket and the lightweight guard. Refs like the clear guardpads, but I do miss having a little padding there.

[KD5MDK]

There is a guard which is made out of hardened aluminum which is sometimes called "titanium", although it isn't. It's been attributed to Vniti, although I don't know if that's accurate.

I like the sockets with the rubber ball as a referee; they feel very secure to me.

[downunder]

~BF White FIE blade.
~LP self-lubricating tip
~LP clear bell pad
~Vniti one-piece guard
~Leon Paul French Grip (only because i pommel)
~Leon Paul Socket

[Gwhite]

A pattern is beginning to emerge. It looks like the LP blades with the LP PTFE tip are pretty popular, as it the Vniti Guard & the Uhlmann socket. There seems to be mixed feeelings about the best pad, but that's a minor issue.

I think the one remaining puzzle is the grip. My daughter is using a French grip, and I had planned on getting a basic standard grip. However, some people mention wanting to have metal exposed (presumably so no one can score on your grip), but most French grips aren't conductive, and I suspect the ones that are could be somewhat heavy. Is getting hit on the grip really an issue? If I go with the LP blade, I know I need a special pommel, but I assume it will work with most standard grips?

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[RITFencing]

These are all great suggestions for an epee, but I'm not sure I would use the vniti blade if you want it to be light. I have one and I love it, but it's much heavier than any of the BF white or blue blades I've used.

[Gav]

Some points [ho ho ho] that no one seems to have mentioned:

1. Set; This is extremely important. The set of the blade (the angle that the grips is to the blade) is very important in deciding how perfect the Epee will be.
2. Standardisation: If you you use a variety of sundires it can be difficult, unless you are very organised, to keep track of which bit corresponds with which (blades being the most obvious; grub screws the hardest). She really should sort out what scheme she likes and that can make a difference in what you buy. She might already have done so.
3. Personal choice: The one thing you can easily say about the preceding combos is that thhy are based on opinion. I would actually consult your daughter rather than buy her an LP blade only to find out (after the fact) that she hates the things and prefers BF.
4. Forget about conductivity and french grips. She's using that grip for a reason. It's easy to cut down a french to ortho but not so easy in reverse... If she is using a french grip, she should be using it for a reason so: get her the appropriate blade and grip. In answer to your question being hit on the grip is not an issue.

I know it's not exactly a surprise if you do, but confer with your daughter and find out what she likes.

[RITFencing]

It can still be a surprise if you're clandestine about it, and god knows that beign a parent will teach you to be a sneaky little bastard sometimes

[Gwhite]

She's been fencing epee once a week for about 4 months, and she's new enough to fencing & epee in particular that I don't think she has any idea what she likes. The club where she fences has only one lefty electric epee, and it's got a #4 blade, so it isn't as if she has had much exposure to different options. The main thing she knows is she wants one that is full length. The idea is to start her with a good weapon, and as she develops preferences, we can adjust. The tips, guard, socket, etc. can be moved to another blade when this one breaks. By then, she'll be ready to consider the details more closely, i.e. if she's ready for a pistol grip, can handle more weight, etc.

The other issue is that she is extremely 15, which means she knows everything, and hasn't got a clue about most of it. She's likely to decide that she wants all sorts of weird requirements, none of which will actually work well for her.

I agree, set is very important, and that's another reason I want to build this one up from scratch. I have very definite ideas about how to set up a good weapon, and I assume that part isn't different from foil.

[RITFencing]

I'd try the non FIE leon paul, then; it's light and durable, and maybe half the price of a BF FIE.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Blade: Blue Gauntlet SG blade
Bell: Whatever you can find
Socket: Make your own
Tip: Just find some parts and stick em on a blade.
Grip: Zivkovic grip

[ReverseLunge]

Some points [ho ho ho] that no one seems to have mentioned:

1. Set; This is extremely important. The set of the blade (the angle that the grips is to the blade) is very important in deciding how perfect the Epee will be.
2. Standardisation: If you you use a variety of sundires it can be difficult, unless you are very organised, to keep track of which bit corresponds with which (blades being the most obvious; grub screws the hardest). She really should sort out what scheme she likes and that can make a difference in what you buy. She might already have done so.
3. Personal choice: The one thing you can easily say about the preceding combos is that thhy are based on opinion. I would actually consult your daughter rather than buy her an LP blade only to find out (after the fact) that she hates the things and prefers BF.
4. Forget about conductivity and french grips. She's using that grip for a reason. It's easy to cut down a french to ortho but not so easy in reverse... If she is using a french grip, she should be using it for a reason so: get her the appropriate blade and grip. In answer to your question being hit on the grip is not an issue.

I know it's not exactly a surprise if you do, but confer with your daughter and find out what she likes.

That was about as useful as tits on a chicken.



Just get her whatever you think is right. It will not be her only epee for the rest of her life. And yeah Leon Paul is a super light super good blade. You might consider getting one fully assembled epee and one spare blade.

[Gav]

That was about as useful as tits on a chicken.



Just get her whatever you think is right. It will not be her only epee for the rest of her life. And yeah Leon Paul is a super light super good blade. You might consider getting one fully assembled epee and one spare blade.

Ah yes the the voice of informed reason.

Well done.

[ReverseLunge]

It all boils down to what the man can afford. Also I don't think he is too worried about the other stufff like guard and sockets. He is mostly just asking for confirmation on if the LP blade is a good choice for his daughter who is like a 2x4.

Yes. LP makes a very good blade that last a long long time.