Breaking Blades

[Robert Smith]

This is getting silly. Up until three months or so ago, I'd only some across one blade that had broken immediately behind the tip. In the last three months, I've seen six. One ancient France Lames, one year-old StM maraging, one Leon Paul. two cheapo StMs and one other, don't know what. StM blades from the Fencing Post, others from who knows where. Tips, German from various sources, mostly tFP, but probably LP on the LP blade. The cheap StMs wired by tFP, the FL and the StM maraging most recently by me, never laid a hand on the LP.

So as far as I can discern, not much in common; different manufacturers, ages, tips, wirers. Only thing in common is the venue.

How often do other people see blades broken at the barrel? Anyone have any theories as to why the sudden rush? It's bad enough having blades break, but losing the barrel at the same time each time is getting to be a right royal pain.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Only thing in common is the venue.

And yourself perhaps, as the user of said blades..?

Some fencers just tend to break more blades than others. Now if that depends on fencing style, blade forge or something completely different I will leave unsaid. Six blades in ~3 months sounds a bit much though...

(And I've never having seen a blade broken by the barrel. At least it hase never happened to me.)

[Purple Fencer]

Actually, I see this type of break a lot....so much so, I I've named it after a fellow SwordPlay member who keeps doing it to the owner's foil tips.

Give that there's not a lot of material left after threading to take the sgtress from being whacked on the barrel, I'd say it's more of a technique issue combined with the tendancy of a weak spot at that part of the blade.

I THINK I have an idea on how to alleviate this, but it involves a redesign of the barrel and examination of different blade makes to make sure it's compatible...I'll have to work on that in the future.....

[Robert Smith]

And yourself perhaps, as the user of said blades..?

Nope. Me, two of them. The ancient FL and one cheapo StM. One, the FIE StM, by my eldest daughter, who NEVER breaks blades. One, my youngest daughter, who's been fencing less than three months. Others, other club members with radically different styles. The cheapo StMs I can understand - very stiff, quite brittle, and a distinctly false economy even without the cost of lost barrels. The others? Dunno. Maybe they caught something from the StMs - StDs from foiling around?

[Inquartata]

I have never had a blade break at the barrel.

But then, I fence sabre.

[ReverseLunge]

I have never had a blade break at the barrel.

But then, I fence sabre.

Don't make me break my saber over your @ss.

[Purple Fencer]

Maybe they caught something from the StMs - StDs from foiling around?

What's the card penalty for that bad of a joke??

[Inquartata]

A yellow jaundice card.

[KD5MDK]

What's the card penalty for that bad of a joke??

I shall inquire of Matt D as soon as I can (he has about 30 cards for various things, including the paisley card for offenses against fashion).

[Purple Fencer]

I shall inquire of Matt D as soon as I can (he has about 30 cards for various things, including the paisley card for offenses against fashion).

*snort* Now THAT'S funny!!

[KD5MDK]

A friend of mine was awarded a purple card for retreating out of his shoe. There's a pink card for getting the touch while breaking a blade, too. Plus plenty more for circumstances yet to come.

[Aqua_volans]

ow. 6 in 3 months. i'm only into my second blade, my first lasted 3 years! leon paul.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Nope. Me, two of them.

Oh sorry. I might have misread, I was under the impression that yuo'd used these blades yourself.

Maybe they caught something from the StMs - StDs from foiling around?

Hey, shouldn't telling jokes be awarded...VISA cards or something?

[Inquartata]

A friend of mine was awarded a purple card for retreating out of his shoe.

I thought the purple card was reserved for naughty armorers.

[Purple Fencer]

I thought the purple card was reserved for naughty armorers.

[remise]

Fencing style can have a tremendous impact on how and if a blade breaks. If the fencer tends to improperly close distance, the chance of the blade breaking is quite high. One fencer in my club was particularly adept at doing this, and broke close to one blade per week. This continued until he achieved the status of breaking one blade per evening, then he was forced to adjust his distance, as he could not afford his current fencing style.

[HDG]

Fencing style can have a tremendous impact on how and if a blade breaks. If the fencer tends to improperly close distance, the chance of the blade breaking is quite high. One fencer in my club was particularly adept at doing this, and broke close to one blade per week. This continued until he achieved the status of breaking one blade per evening, then he was forced to adjust his distance, as he could not afford his current fencing style.

Remember these were broken by various fencers with various styles, and were all broken at the tip.

[telkanuru]

While it could be the fencer, it could also be the opponent. Is there a common factor on the style of the person the blade broke on?

[LUDICROUS]

Fencing style can have a tremendous impact on how and if a blade breaks. If the fencer tends to improperly close distance, the chance of the blade breaking is quite high. One fencer in my club was particularly adept at doing this, and broke close to one blade per week. This continued until he achieved the status of breaking one blade per evening, then he was forced to adjust his distance, as he could not afford his current fencing style.

Freaky. Scary. Expensive. Did he simply close the distance very fast and hit with a bent arm on the run?

[remise]

He would establish PIL then literally explode towards his opponent. He does not do that anymore. It proved to be too expensive.