Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

tonybogdan · 01-09-2006, 09:33 PM

Well here's the deal. My best friend's dad is the US Foil Team's physician, and me, her, and another friend are going to the World Championships (either that, or another Int'l Competition) In Paris, France, the 26th. (That weekend)

I fence Sabre, and from what i hear, a lot of good discounts and great deals are given at int'l competitions such as this. However, the exchange rate right now isn't exactly favoring US right now (approx. $1.22 for the Euro)

Basically, I will be needing to buy a:
Saber
Lame
Cuff, Body Cord, Mask Cord
Mask

Do you suggest I buy everything from a domestic vendor (Most likely something like Absolute Fencing, unless one of you fine people recommend something better), or save my money and time and wait until i go to Paris and hope for the best.

Any feedback would be great, thanks!

KD5MDK · 01-09-2006, 10:17 PM

The sabre probably won't be anything special for being from over there. It is possible to buy FIE mask, high quality lame, etc from over there much easier. Maybe Negrini and Favero body cords (Italian).

rcmatthews · 01-10-2006, 01:48 AM

Defintely get some Negrini bayonnets, if not only because they are so hard to find over here.

sabreur · 01-10-2006, 07:08 AM

The thing to remember is save your receipts and get the value-added tax refunded at the airport when you fly back to the US--that will save you almost 20% of the purchase price.

jjrenaud · 01-10-2006, 11:27 AM

well, you'll never find some good price in Paris, allstar price in France are at least twice as Germany, Prieur isn't the best. But it's you who will choose

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 01-10-2006, 11:31 AM

perhaps try cartel escrime? I don't know where in france they're located, but it cant be too far.

KD5MDK · 01-10-2006, 01:44 PM

1) Estoc is a good French brand, and I other than low availablility in the US I haven't heard anything against Cartel. Estoc lames are very very good.

2) It sounded like he was going to a decent level tournament, and I would think there would be a number of vendors there, although I don't know what things are like in Europe compared to the US.

3) PBT gear is more expensive in the US relative to other European brands than it is in Europe, as I understand. So if it's available there at much less than other FIE prices, it could be a good deal.

whtouche · 01-10-2006, 02:04 PM

Is there a way to order Estoc equipment directly from Estoc? As in, do they have a website (preferrably in english?) I could go to to order one of their lames?
I know Swordmasters sells them, but I'm just curious if there's a way to go directly through them.

KD5MDK · 01-10-2006, 03:16 PM

If you google for Estoc Escrime, I think their french website comes up. However, Swordmasters are really good people, so unless it's an incredible deal I'd encourage you to go through them.

RebelFencer · 01-10-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

If you google for Estoc Escrime, I think their french website comes up. However, Swordmasters are really good people, so unless it's an incredible deal I'd encourage you to go through them.

Seconded. I buy most of my stuff through them. I bought a glove at their booth at Ark-La-Miss divisionals my first year fencing (2.5 years ago) and it is still in perfect shape with fencing at least 4 times a week and travelling to tournaments most weekends.

LUDICROUS · 01-10-2006, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RebelFencer

Seconded. I buy most of my stuff through them. I bought a glove at their booth at Ark-La-Miss divisionals my first year fencing (2.5 years ago) and it is still in perfect shape with fencing at least 4 times a week and travelling to tournaments most weekends.

Thats a glove...

KD5MDK · 01-10-2006, 09:08 PM

Yeah, but I also talk to senior armorers who say he's never been presented with an Estoc lame that does not pass...

RebelFencer · 01-11-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUDICROUS

Thats a glove...

Also the weapons have been extremely well balanced, well put together, and delivered very quickly. Better?

LUDICROUS · 01-11-2006, 03:15 AM

Yes.

betty · 01-21-2006, 12:40 AM

Go to the Prieur website and see if the prices are a good deal for you.
http://www.prieur-sports.com/index.htm
They show prices with tax and without. As a foreigner you don't pay the French tax.
A sabre mask FIE costs $ 131.6 without tax, $ 157.39 with tax.

When you buy on-line, the marchandise is shipped efficiently fast. We received a pair of knickers in 10 days.

If you buy in Paris, take your passport and credit card with you, and ask for the 'detax" from the merchant. You will get the French tax "TVA" back after you have the paperwork stamped at the airport before checking your luggage on the way out of the country.
The big Prieur store in Paris opens Monday to Friday from 10am to 6 pm:
76 Blvd Richar Lenoir, 75011 Paris. (near the Bastille)
Metro station: St.Ambroise or Richard Lenoir.
Phone: 03 85 57 86 64

They always have great sales for bags.
The masks are perfect and the lames and gloves are of great quality. A seamstress on the premises can do some corrections or resizing if needed.

Oh, and have a glance at the FFE site for that Paris World Cup:
http://www.escrime-cip.com/

Bon voyage.

yeoldearmourer · 01-21-2006, 12:57 AM

prieur mask are tough and last I have some prieur mask from the 70's that was design for the 7 kilos pucnh test that passed the 12 k without a hitch all I did was replace the bib on it to make longer to complain with the new rules on the bib.

KD5MDK · 01-21-2006, 02:15 AM

Actually, I do have one thing to hold against Prieur masks, at least for sabre: The top of the bib does not have a plate over it like the Negrini or Blue Gauntlet FIE masks do. This is a major wear point and place where the bib will come off, fail etc. Having that plate covering it helps a lot. My friend's Allstar mask had the bib pull away completely there after a few years.