Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

KKKuehn · 06-01-2006, 02:23 PM

For fun I'll open a can of worms....First, I've been using a old Santelli blade which I love except for one huge problem, it is way to whippy for my taste, I have another saber which is new, with a 2000 blade which is a bit heavier, more unbalanced towards the tip, but is much stiffer. Has anyone out there used that new Pozdnewski (I know I screwed that up) blade offered by Leon Paul? I enjoy a lighter saber like that old Santelli.....
I'm really desireing a saber that is balanced better, towards the pommel..any advice? thanks, Keith

downunder · 06-01-2006, 02:35 PM

all new sabres are much less flexible due to the rule change.

The sabre you were using previously clearly was not a legal blade for any serious competition.

HDG · 06-01-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KKKuehn

For fun I'll open a can of worms....First, I've been using a old Santelli blade which I love except for one huge problem, it is way to whippy for my taste, I have another saber which is new, with a 2000 blade which is a bit heavier, more unbalanced towards the tip, but is much stiffer. Has anyone out there used that new Pozdnewski (I know I screwed that up) blade offered by Leon Paul? I enjoy a lighter saber like that old Santelli.....
I'm really desireing a saber that is balanced better, towards the pommel..any advice? thanks, Keith

Santelli didn't make its own blades; for saber it was either LP or Scaroni.

erooMynohtnA · 06-01-2006, 02:55 PM

You can try the new Leon Paul Chameleon. I haven't had one long enough to attest to its durability, but it's lighter than the Pozdnyakov. Of the three blades I own, it's also the least tip heavy.

You could always throw some weight onto the pommel in the form of washers or a heavier pommel nut.

downunder · 06-01-2006, 03:02 PM

secret: Leon Paul Chameleon blades are just StM blades. Exactly the same that allstar and uhlmann sell.

KD5MDK · 06-01-2006, 04:14 PM

No wonder they have that name.

erooMynohtnA · 06-01-2006, 04:31 PM

I was wondering about that.

KKKuehn · 06-01-2006, 04:35 PM

Yes, I knew that is a old blade, and not "legal" for competition. I mainly use it for practice especially with my children, figuring it's safer just because of it's flexibility. I do fence with one fellow though who is very aggresive, and doesn't seem to mind much if he can win by bruising you. That Santelli saber simply gets pushed out of the way, and it's beginning to get tiring being whipped not in points, but needing to actually heal for a period of time! I like to fence just for the sheer enjoyment, win or lose. Maybe I'll try that chameleon, don't know yet..... At least this is a learning experience and I am thankful to all who reply....KEITH

knave · 06-01-2006, 08:01 PM

You might also look into the LM sabers. They're not quite as nice as a Poz (which is my wife's baby), but fairly stiff and nicely balanced. I've gotten them from both PBT and Swordmasters.

Ordway · 06-01-2006, 08:55 PM

Safer? Depends on your definition of "safe". I've been hurt a LOT worse by whipover from spaghetti blades than I've ever been hurt by a regular hit from a S2000 blade.

I'd just add that correctly balancing a blade can make it feel lighter and in general just handle better. I had several sabres that I'd put together with no bend in the tang, and found them blah to handle. My coach happened to pick them up, said "Ugh!" and rebalanced them all for me, bending the tang appropriately. Now they handle nicely and feel lighter.

KD5MDK · 06-01-2006, 09:11 PM

Stiff means easier to penetrate with.

downunder · 06-01-2006, 09:16 PM

the new sabres are stiffer than epees, with a much smaller point. Quite dangerous really.

keropie · 06-01-2006, 09:20 PM

I would generally say that safer means less likely to cause (more significant) injury, not less likely to cause pain. Most whipover hits hurt/are painful, but cause relatively little injury, whereas the stiffer blades can cause more significant bruising, puncture, etc.

Christopher J Umbs · 06-01-2006, 10:27 PM

Yeah, in some ways I love the s2000, but I have nothing that moves like my scaroni...

sabreur · 06-02-2006, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downunder

the new sabres are stiffer than epees, with a much smaller point. Quite dangerous really.

No, the new sabres are AS stiff as epees--the specification is exactly the same. And actually, my feeling is that epees tend to be stiffer than the spec, while sabres are right at the boundary.

However, a point attack with an S2000 blade can hurt--I find that I avoid using the point in near simultaneous situations, just because I'm afraid of hurting my opponent.

If you want a sabre that balances nearer the pommel, consider buying heavier pommel nuts. I was using the Allstar metal pommels, taping them so they are insulated, but recently got a bunch of the Triplette heavy sabre pommels (http://triplette.com/catalog/index.p...fc8ad4fc49dbf). Although they make the weapon heavier, it feels lighter, because the balance is moved back toward your hand--I find that it improves my hand speed considerably, although my accuracy has suffered a little--but that is just a matter of getting used to the new balance.

MR

KKKuehn · 06-02-2006, 10:37 AM

Thanks All: Yea, I was right about a can of worms, but really it's a lot of good info, I'm learning more than I thought I would! Fpr a middle aged old geezer that ain't bad. Well, I'm going for the pommel weight first, lets see how that turns out, I'm sure for the better.....Everyone have a great weekend, Keith

telkanuru · 06-02-2006, 10:27 PM

I just wanted to chime in and say paying more than $25 for a sabre blade is pretty retarded. It's much more about how you balance a sabre than what kind of blade it has.

MyrddinsPrecint · 06-02-2006, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telkanuru

I just wanted to chime in and say paying more than $25 for a sabre blade is pretty retarded. It's much more about how you balance a sabre than what kind of blade it has.

he says, as if he fences sabre........... ever.........