French point vs. German point for elec. foil

[Tom S]

What's the difference?
Which is better?

Tom

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Tom S

What's the difference?
Which is better?

Tom

Hello Tom,

The main differences:

French - cheaper. Breaks more. Screws are flush w/barrel.
German - more expensive. Breaks less. Screws sitck out from barrel.

Most clubs go french due to expense and more individual fencers go with German for the increased reliability.

I currently use Leon Paul points and am working to convert as many people as I can over to them b/c they don't have the disadvantages of the German points. (In terms of dinged barrels and screws that can get mashed.)

Craig

[Fernando Diaz]

The only disadvantage of the german ones is that sometimes the screws are smashed since they go out of the barrel and you can not unscrew them anymore.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by Fernando Diaz

The only disadvantage of the german ones is that sometimes the screws are smashed since they go out of the barrel and you can not unscrew them anymore.

The steel is soft enough to slice the slot open with a razor blade and get the screw out, however.

[OROD]

Originally Posted by Craig

French - cheaper. Breaks more. Screws are flush w/barrel.

Not necessarily. The ones I've seen mostly have the part where the screw screws into made of brass, so that's total crap and doesnt last long. On the other hand, I've seen French ones that use steel for this part, those are much better. And, they have the advantage over German that the screws dont stick out.

.

[JMcC]

Originally Posted by Craig

I currently use Leon Paul points and am working to convert as many people as I can over to them b/c they don't have the disadvantages of the German points. (In terms of dinged barrels and screws that can get mashed.)
Craig

There's a somewhat similar discussion thread over on the UK FencingForum site, and they're going for the Leon Paul over the German points overwhelmingly.
Of course Leon Paul IS a UK company, but still...

[Craig]

Originally Posted by JMcC

There's a somewhat similar discussion thread over on the UK FencingForum site, and they're going for the Leon Paul over the German points overwhelmingly.
Of course Leon Paul IS a UK company, but still...

Well, I've landed a few converts over here. The number one objection is really inertia-based: I have spare parts for X point already. The LP one is great, but I don't want to waste all this other stuff...