Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

seven6ty · 07-11-2006, 07:30 PM

Anybody have some recommendations for good German barrels to use for epees?

I've been using the Allstar ones, that say "Made in Germany" vertically along the side. A note for other out there...

DON'T USE THESE!

I've had three in the last three weeks where the barrel split vertically on them, never happened to me before. Now practically all of these that I've gotten ended up cracking and breaking in half along the vertical axis. I don't know how regular an occurrance this is, but it's incredibly lame and I don't see how so many of these could be giving me the same problems, anyone else experience this much?

Anyways, if anyone could recommend some other good German barrels on the market and where to get them, I'd appreciate it. Ooo, also, lemme know if you guys know what places have good red epee wires, and red wire insulation, thanks!

BySword · 07-11-2006, 08:55 PM

leon paul barrel, german compatible.
actually I use all LP tips, they are the best in terms of durability, but be sure to use german weight spring and contact spring in them.

***Craig*** · 07-12-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seven6ty

I've had three in the last three weeks where the barrel split vertically on them, never happened to me before. Now practically all of these that I've gotten ended up cracking and breaking in half along the vertical axis.

When is this happening? Is it when you are tightening the barrel onto the blade or during a fencing action?

Craig

remise · 07-12-2006, 12:57 PM

You could talk to the Zivkovic fellows. I've NEVER had a problem with any of their epee parts/wires, and I tend to loan my weapons to new students.....

seven6ty · 07-12-2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

When is this happening? Is it when you are tightening the barrel onto the blade or during a fencing action?

It's happened a number of times in different situations. The first time, I was fencing and hit my opponent's bell guard, when the first one split in half and tore the tip of the wire with it.

The second time, yes, I was tightening the barrel while rewiring the blade that had just had the barrel split in half the first time on it.

The third time I was in the middle of fencing and didn't notice until the last touch was scored. I don't know when it split in half, but it was in the middle of fencing action and I later found it on the ground with the tip still in it.

So, so far the recommendations are for Zivkovic and Leon Paul? I've been using the LP tip screws, which I like a lot, wasn't sure if the barrels were compatible or not, but knowing that, I may switch over to using those also.

Anyone have any more tips on that, or where to find red epee wire/red insulation? Thanks!

fencerbill · 07-12-2006, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seven6ty

Anybody have some recommendations for good German barrels to use for epees?

I've been using the Allstar ones, that say "Made in Germany" vertically along the side. A note for other out there...

DON'T USE THESE!

I've had three in the last three weeks where the barrel split vertically on them, never happened to me before. Now practically all of these that I've gotten ended up cracking and breaking in half along the vertical axis. I don't know how regular an occurrance this is, but it's incredibly lame and I don't see how so many of these could be giving me the same problems, anyone else experience this much?

Anyways, if anyone could recommend some other good German barrels on the market and where to get them, I'd appreciate it. Ooo, also, lemme know if you guys know what places have good red epee wires, and red wire insulation, thanks!

When that has happened to me, the problem was not with the barrels but with the blade. This opinion is reinforced when you said that you had the re-occurrence while rewiring the blade where the first split.

I expect that when you examine the blade carefully you will see that just beyond the threads, the blade will flare out but closer to the tip than the depth of threads inside the barrel.

For an ideal blade tip/barrel combination, you should be able to tighten the barrel until the blade bottoms out inside the barrel. But if the blade flares out too close to the tip, as you tighten the barrel the flare of the blade will split the barrel.

I expect that the original barrel had started to split before it broke on your opponents guard. The impact would have driven the barrel back towards your own guard and stressed the incipient split to failure.

Then when you tightened the barrel while rewiring, you tightened it so far that the flare of the blade stressed the new barrel to failure.

If you don't do something to fix that blade you can split any manufacturers barrels with it.

When I run into this problem I use my grinder to improve the flare of the blade but you could also use a Dremel or a file.

seven6ty · 07-12-2006, 08:21 PM

Oooo, you know, I hadn't thought of that, I'll have to check that out, thanks!

keropie · 07-12-2006, 10:14 PM

And you could always look into the whole FWF tip components thing. Though I don't know for sure if their wire is blue or red (I'd guess blue).

LUDICROUS · 07-13-2006, 01:00 AM

Uhh.. Uhlmann? Mine have been bashed around for the past few months and are fine.

BySword · 07-13-2006, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keropie

And you could always look into the whole FWF tip components thing. Though I don't know for sure if their wire is blue or red (I'd guess blue).

I got red wire from fencing.net all the time. not sure what brand of german wire though

***Craig*** · 07-13-2006, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BySword

I got red wire from fencing.net all the time. not sure what brand of german wire though

The FWF wire comes in red and blue for both foil and epee. I order the epee wires in red and foil wires in blue to help me keep inventory straight.

I prefer the Leon Paul points and wires. Haven't had the problems with the wires like some people have, but we've been watchful for pulling on the insulation.

The only issue that I've seen w/the LPs is that a few tips have had the contact springs back out. I'm making sure we use the tips that Alex provided in another thread to secure the contact spring.

Another thing is that the LP points are about the same price or a little less than the FWF points. Makes the choice even easier.

Craig

Fechter1 · 07-13-2006, 10:59 AM

For the record, I haven't had a problem with the German barrels at all. I've been using them for over 10 years, and not a problem with any of them.

Then again, I've not had any of my other barrels split either, so it could just be me... Not that I'm easy on the tips when fencing, but I do my own armoring, and I do take special care not to overtighten the barrel onto the blade. (My setup: put blade in visegrip with ~1-1.5" exposed, tighten until the blade itself begins to twist. I also wrap a layer of teflon tape around the tipthreads beforehand, less loose barrels that way, but don't ask me why)

Only remember seeing one barrel spit open, but that one was spectacular. Barrel split all the way, wire was still intact and still working. Looked really cool.

seven6ty · 07-13-2006, 03:53 PM

Hmmm, ok, so I checked out the threading on the tip of the blade in question, and I can't really notice any unusual "flaring" of the tip of the threading. It all seems fairly kosher to me, but I'll probably go over it with a file or something before my next re-wire anyways, just in case.

Barry Paul · 07-13-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

The only issue that I've seen w/the LPs is that a few tips have had the contact springs back out. I'm making sure we use the tips that Alex provided in another thread to secure the contact spring.

Craig

iN THEORY IF THE CONTACT SPRING IS WOUND ALL THE WAY IN TILL THE FIRST COIL REACHES THE INTERNALANNULAR GROVE THE SPRING IS FIXED AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNWIND IT. THE ONLY WAY TO REMOVE IT IS TO RIP THE SPRING OUT WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS AND START AGAIN.