Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

edwin012290 · 01-15-2006, 07:09 PM

i havent been around for a long time as some of the senior members here. i've been fencing for around 2 years and im still not sure which company i should select when dealing with equipment. i know LP has really good equipment when it comes to masks and uniforms, however, their foils arent the greatest out there. their epees are, however, interesting innovations. Vniti makes pretty damn good foils. But who makes the best sabres?

Inquartata · 01-15-2006, 09:25 PM

You do.

Seriously. The best sabres are assembled from carefully chosen parts by the user, to provide him with the best idiosyncratic balance, weight and handling characteristics.

I use mostly S+M blades, but the rest of my sabres are a hodgpodge of different guards, grips, pommels and sockets, giving each one a distinct feel. Well, distinct to me, anyway.

Leon Paul and Allstar make good guards and other parts. So does Negrini, and Santelli used to do as well ( it's now defunct ). With others I am less familiar, but the bigger vendors like Absolute and Fencing Post, American Fencers Supply, Blue Gauntlet and others, carry a pretty wide assortment of pieces.

If I was going to buy a complete sabre, or if I had no experience assembling them, I'd go with LP or Allstar.

stealingophelia · 01-15-2006, 10:15 PM

i like allstar and ulhmann

prototoast · 01-15-2006, 10:41 PM

I don't like Allstar/Uhlmann blades or Leon Paul blades or guards. I'd suggest either an StM or Blue Gauntlet blade with Uhlmann parts.

LUDICROUS · 01-16-2006, 12:24 AM

The company that gets it to you quickly

So, Leon Paul is a good choice, unless you live near a fencing company.

yeoldearmourer · 01-16-2006, 12:52 AM

Leon Paul makes the best sabre maybe because Barry Paul fence sabre. I really like there bell guards. I perfer the leather handlle over rubber or plastic.

KD5MDK · 01-17-2006, 01:43 AM

Where do you live?

West Coast - fencing post or Purple Fencer
Central/Southwest - Swordmasters
East Coast - Absolute.

gtmac · 01-17-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUDICROUS

The company that gets it to you quickly

So, Leon Paul is a good choice, unless you live near a fencing company.

Be careful here. I live near Blue Gauntlet and when I went into their facility to buy a mask they told me that it was $15 more than their "website price". Fast is all well and good, but expense is a big factor for many of us. There is no legitimate reason to advertise a lower price online then what you charge locally.

I'd rather wait the few days for shipping then to get charged extra. Unless of course they just tack on the extra 15 in shipping & handling charges.

Purple Fencer · 01-17-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

Where do you live?

West Coast - fencing post or Purple Fencer
Central/Southwest - Swordmasters
East Coast - Absolute.

Thanks for the props!! But you should get the company name right... H.O.M. Fencing Supply (yes, I know it's in my signature block....but some people may not see it)

***Craig*** · 01-17-2006, 03:04 PM

Here is a list of vendors based on a summer 2005 survey run at Fencing.Net:

Preferred Fencing Vendor (top 5 listed in alphabetical order with home state listed):
Absolute Fencing Gear (NJ)
Blue Gauntlet (NJ)
Fencing Post (CA)
Leon Paul USA (Operations based in UK)
Triplette (NC)

Since that survey the following suppliers have started or expanded:
HOM Fencing (Purple Fencer's store)
Duellist USA (they had just opened up when this survey went out)
Fencing.Net (we opened our doors in October)

Another survey will be coming out soon as it is overdue.

Craig

rcmatthews · 01-17-2006, 05:38 PM

Here are the sabres that I have:

Number 1:
Leon Paul bellguard
plastic pommel nut
Leon Paul foam insulation (I love this stuff, its the best thing about buying an electric bell from them)
Leon Paul rubber grip (I like these better than Uhlmann ones)
STM blade (its rainbow, but that doesnt make any difference)

Number 2:
same as above but with a leather grip

Number 3:
crappy bellguard from swordmasters, it has a weird shape and the insulating paint is chipping off, so I don't use it.

I think I want to buy an Allstar bell next and see how that works out.

edwin012290 · 01-17-2006, 09:21 PM

well for LP, i have that pozdynakov sabre but the lightweight guard i got was literally raped on its first use. it got all scratched up and there were deep cuts in the guard. also, the edges of the guard are kind of jagged because they were struck there...cheaper guards lasted longer. is it like this for all LP lightweight guards? or is it just that mine was an unlucky and poorly made one?

KD5MDK · 01-17-2006, 09:26 PM

My Swordmaster's guards have held up plenty well. There's little nicks on the edges, but that's about it. How old are yours? I rather liked that Scott etched my name in them when I bought them (it was at a tournament). One of them has the original Gold StM blade on it and the other has replaced the broken blade with a regular StM I bought from the local Fencing Post dealer.

KD5MDK · 01-17-2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwin012290

well for LP, i have that pozdynakov sabre but the lightweight guard i got was literally raped on its first use. it got all scratched up and there were deep cuts in the guard. also, the edges of the guard are kind of jagged because they were struck there...cheaper guards lasted longer. is it like this for all LP lightweight guards? or is it just that mine was an unlucky and poorly made one?

I consider scratches just part of life for guards. Now, when you say cuts, do you mean gouges? As for the edge damage, that happens to all guards, but not on the first use I'd think. Can you post pictures of it?

teefeelee · 01-17-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwin012290

well for LP, i have that pozdynakov sabre but the lightweight guard i got was literally raped on its first use. it got all scratched up and there were deep cuts in the guard. also, the edges of the guard are kind of jagged because they were struck there...cheaper guards lasted longer. is it like this for all LP lightweight guards? or is it just that mine was an unlucky and poorly made one?

Unless its a ever stainless steel guard, I also consider this pretty normal. My pbt guard is scratched like crazy, but not dented. It's practically matte now, and it was shiny when I first got it. It is holding up well though.

Epeecurean · 01-19-2006, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeoldearmourer

Leon Paul makes the best sabre maybe because Barry Paul fence sabre. I really like there bell guards. I perfer the leather handlle over rubber or plastic.

Barry Paul fences sabre? News to me!

Larrison · 01-20-2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

I consider scratches just part of life for guards. [...]

Years ago, the club I fenced with had a specific initiation ceremony for people with new weapons with shiny guards. You brought out the new weapon, everyond "ooh!"ed and "Ahh!" ed at it, and then the club would line up. Everyone got one attack into the new weapon, so it could get scratched by everyone...