Blades for someone who knows nothing

[Linkthealmighty]

I have a friend who is looking for a new electric foil blade, and knows nothing about foil blades to speak of so doesn't know which to get. Cheap would be good, as of now he strictly bouts in our club but he is thinking about tournaments in the furture. From what I know he's been using an old (and I mean old) triplett practice blade, I never really used it but I think it was a moderatly stiff blade compared to the one's that I've used (Vnitti and an old FL). He's also used our club weapons, which are Dynamo blades and moderatly stiff. He is a fairly good defensive fencier and he favors quick parries and reposts as well as the demise. I really don't know what else to say about him other than agian that price is an obsticle (but feel free to also post things with higher prices for future reference).

[KD5MDK]

StM is the budget standard.

[WhipLash]

Stm is a good blade but many have commented on it becoming more flexible over time/use, and this would not be desirable to a defensive fencer right? is FIE blades mandatory at competitions in your area?

[Morion]

I have had good luck with blades from American Fencers Supply. You can buy an unwired blade from "various Eastern European forges" for $24 plus S&H. Wired blades come with a German Tip and are $36. They seem to be good sturdy blades and last a long time (at least for me).

[Linkthealmighty]

Do you have a similar fencing style (i.e. mainly defence). I'll tell him to check that out though, do you have a web address for them?

[Morion]

Originally Posted by Linkthealmighty

Do you have a similar fencing style (i.e. mainly defence). I'll tell him to check that out though, do you have a web address for them?

http://www.amfence.com/

I do tend to defend more than I should (you don't get touches defending). I am also somewhat heavy handed although I'm getting better. To me these just seem to be good sturdy blades.

[Craig]

At Fencing.Net we have the StM standard blade as well as the Leon Paul Etoile blade.

Both are available at: http://shop.fencing.net/category_s/47.htm

The StM blade is a good basic budget blade - the equal to the "various eastern euro forges" blades. We sell it for $25.95 wired.

The Leon Paul Etiole is a very good blade. It is fairly flexible but its life is generally much longer than the StM. It comes wired with Leon Paul point for $38.41 and we may have some unwired in stock for about $30.

Craig

[KD5MDK]

Originally Posted by Craig

The StM blade is a good basic budget blade - the equal to the "various eastern euro forges" blades. We sell it for $25.95 wired.

That's a great price!

FIE blades are not required in the US.

[JayhawkPawn]

While no longer a foilist, I have learned one very important thing about foil blades. Do not buy an uncoated blade. Yes, the Gold, and Rainbow coatings look a bit silly, but the less rust marks you leave on the more aggressive fencer's jackets, bibs, and knickers, the less they try and test the breaking point of their nice stiff FIE blade on your sternum.

I personally use the Vniti foil blades, simply for durability, and the only time I fence foil is helping teach the newbies, and with my significant other. She's fond of the Chevalier Gold blades, and from toying around with them I've found the StM rainbow blades to be well-balanced and only slightly whippy.

All of the reccomendations by people depend on how often you fence, weekly, 3 times a week, monthly, and heavily on your fencing style, epee influences my foil, so the stiff blades appeal to me, whereas my coach, who is a skilled foilist, likes the Etiole, and StM blades, for their slightly more bendy nature.

Hope this helps.

[WhipLash]

the anti-rust coating does help but up to a certain point. my BF blue started rusting even with the coating, though all it took was 5 min to remove the rust. thing is, the coating will wear off with use and now it's totally bare.

[Linkthealmighty]

I too enjoy the Vnitti, but he isn't looking to spend that much money in the area I don't think. For information we generally fence 2 times a week. I was curious as to what the Chevalier Gold blades, were I've never heard of them. From what I see the general agreement seems to be the StM blades, I'll let him know about that. If anyone else has anything else please let me know.

[JayhawkPawn]

The Chevalier Gold blades are somewhat like the old France Lames blades, although I'm not sure anyone is making them anymore, I've heard people who like, and dislike them, they'e a bit on the stiff side, and I don't like them, but that's because I'm a fencer, not a pimp, gold just isn't my style.

[Linkthealmighty]

Any idea where to pick one up?

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Linkthealmighty

Any idea where to pick one up?

I don't carry the Chevalier blades yet, but Absolute does ($33 unwired):
http://www.absolutefencinggear.com/s...roducts_id/197

[mackillian]

Of all my blades, my StM FIE maraging is my favorite for its balance and its somewhat flexible nature. Now I just need to pick up a couple more.

[Duellist USA]

Mac,

Give me a call..you've got to see the new blade we carry.....I was in London this past weekend....and brought back a half dozen of them.....


Rick

[mackillian]

I just saw this. Will do.