I was wondering what are the advantages of buying a more expensive blade over a cheaper blade
The price differance is due to the mettalurgical makeup of the blade.
The less expensive blades are carbon steel...the higher priced ones tend to be maraging steel.
Maraging steel blades generally last a LOT longer in normal usage than carbon steel ones (maraging blades are referred to as "FIE" blades because they've been homolugated...manufactured in accordance with the rules of the FIE, the sport's ruling body)
Crack propogation in maraging blades is about 10 times slower than carbon steel ones....and thus the breakage rate is about 10 times less.
In addition to the simple longevity of the FIE blades, less breakage means less potential from a follow-on injury from the broken blade, which is why they're required at FIE competitions. And don't let anyone tell you FIE blades are designed to break flat....that's a persistent fencing urban myth. They just breqak less frequently.
I was wondering what are the advantages of buying a more expensive blade over a cheaper blade
Expensive blades don't necessarily have any advantage over cheap ones. If you're talking about the difference in price between FIE and non-FIE there's a big price difference and durability difference. Various blades have different feels to them, and you might get one that feels better to you if you pay more, but you might not. There's no guarantee you'll like the feel of a $130 G-Pro better than some Chinese blade that cost $20
If you're talking about two FIE blades, there's not necessarily any difference in durability. Vnitis last forever, and they cost way less than BF. However, people are willing to pay for the performance of the BFs because they like the way they feel.
If you're talking about the price of two non-FIE blades, there isn't necessarily an advantage in durability of the more expensive one. In fact, my $15 Absolute saber blade is holding up better than any of my others, but it's a real club.
If you're talking about two StM blade or two BF blades, and one is $3-5 more expensive, it's because there's a colored coating on the blade. It looks pretty.
Therefore, there isn't any advantage in buying a more expensive blade just because it costs more. There's just a durability advantage of buying FIE over non-FIE blades and FIE blades happen to cost a lot more.
In richmond I broke a BF White FIE in 1 day, and most of my others break in a few weeks.
As for the original poster, the more expensive blades generally feel much better, as far as balance and stiffness. If you're picky about how your weapons feel, then you'll suck it up and get the non-durable FIE magic wands.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben
In GENERAL they do....but like anything maufactured, there can be flaws during manufacture.
Maybe...
The blaise freres brothers are making a killing with their flaws, because they know that some fencers will pay for blades that feel good, even if they don't last through a tournament.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben
The blaise freres brothers are making a killing with their flaws, because they know that some fencers will pay for blades that feel good, even if they don't last through a tournament.
Maybe some fencers should experiment with different blades or hit a little gentler.
FYI it's the Blaise brothers. Frere means brother.
or maybe... you're just really rough on your blades. I had a BF blade last me 11 months, using it about 3 days a week for 2 hour practices. I have a friend who breaks cheap blades all the time (he uses cheaper blades when his BF isn't working, needs rewiring, etc). His BF lasted him almost 3 YEARS.
Just because it's funny:
Originally Posted by Capt. Slo-mo
If you don't want to lose fencing privileges at USFA-sanctioned events, then refrain from throwing flamagels at those events.
One theory: Fencers start getting more expensive blades after they've fenced for awhile and have broken a few cheap blades. When they finally acquire the more expensive blades, their fencing has already gotten better, and thus they're less likely to break the blade. But instead, it'd seem like the more expensive blade lasts longer.
Thoughts?
I do think that FIE blades do last quite a bit longer than the cheap non-FIE ones. As for the difference between prices of FIE blades, I agree that the durability might not be the issue.
A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of.
Grant I've known a lot of people that fence with BFs almost exclusively and I've never heard of anyone breaking them as often as you claim to. Maybe while you're pointing that finger at BF you should take a look at the 3 others pointing back at you.
I now dangle to the left....my tassle. Get your minds out of the gutter.
"Martin was not an optimist; he was a prisoner of hope." Optimism is about assuming there's evidence that justifies your outlook while hope is about creating the evidence and procuring your own happiness or vision of the world. - Professor West
One theory: Fencers start getting more expensive blades after they've fenced for awhile and have broken a few cheap blades. When they finally acquire the more expensive blades, their fencing has already gotten better, and thus they're less likely to break the blade. But instead, it'd seem like the more expensive blade lasts longer.
Thoughts?
I've seen some people get better and break fewer and fewer blades, and I've seen some people get better and break more. It seems like some people start off real heavy handed then learn finesse, and some people start heavy handed and nothing changes except the strength of their forearm.
BF blades have the best chemical make up, they are the least likely to have flaws. Lamment blades last the longest, but if you like feel, stay away from lamment, they are like tank blades.
"There is a fine line between clever and stupid" David St. Hubbins
BF blades have the best chemical make up, they are the least likely to have flaws.
Then why does Joe break so many?
I'm really convinced that the formula for the BF blades has changed, because I hear some people talking about the older blades lasting a year or more, and then these days, people are talking about them lasting under a month.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben
Originally Posted by The Incredible Ike 
