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bobb121 · 07-04-2007, 03:48 AM

I am looking to get a new sabre mask, and my current choices are FWF and Artos. I am lloking at getting the FIE version. Since no one is selling those mask in the states right now, I am looking to buy direct. Could I get some opinions on these mask, and could someone tell me why the artos mask cost $60 more than the FWF mask at $190 for the artos.

Thanks in advance

erooMynohtnA · 07-04-2007, 03:55 AM

http://shop.fencing.net/FWF_FIE_Elec...p/fwf67002.htm

And I don't know. Quanitity, production, materials, marketing?

fencerbill · 07-04-2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobb121

I am looking to get a new sabre mask, and my current choices are FWF and Artos. I am lloking at getting the FIE version. Since no one is selling those mask in the states right now, I am looking to buy direct. Could I get some opinions on these mask, and could someone tell me why the artos mask cost $60 more than the FWF mask at $190 for the artos.

Thanks in advance

The web site says that it uses lightweight Lame material. This may be good or bad. Consult the people who use the Foil or Sabre Lames of the same material.

KD5MDK · 07-09-2007, 03:36 PM

Why did you pick those two?

***Craig*** · 07-09-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobb121

I am looking to get a new sabre mask, and my current choices are FWF and Artos. I am lloking at getting the FIE version. Since no one is selling those mask in the states right now, I am looking to buy direct. Could I get some opinions on these mask, and could someone tell me why the artos mask cost $60 more than the FWF mask at $190 for the artos.

Thanks in advance

Well Bob, we sell the FWF masks here at Fencing.Net. I haven't seen any Artos gear in the US, and I haven't heard anything good about their stuff. The postings about their uniforms and such that I've seen make them out to be fairly mid-level stuff.

The FWF gear is very high quality. This is made by the factory that used to manufacture everything from masks to point parts for Uhlmann before Uhlmann switched to save a few pennies on production and pass none of the savings on to the consumer.

In Miami last week I did a side by side comparison of one of my FWF FIE masks and an Uhlmann FIE Foil/Epee mask from 2005. Same frame, same factory stamp.

As to durability - I've heard nothing but good things on the durability of the FWF sabre lames. The heavy cheek plate of the FWF mask also is there to prevent damage to the lame material where it occurs the most.

Cheers,
Craig

HDG · 07-09-2007, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I haven't seen any Artos gear in the US

Wasn't their booth just two down from yours?

Rick Shellhouse · 07-09-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDG

Wasn't their booth just two down from yours?

That was AtHos

They stuck that dang "H" in there..

R

HDG · 07-09-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Shellhouse

That was AtHos

They stuck that dang "H" in there..

R

Okay, so who is Athos and who is Artos?

Rick Shellhouse · 07-09-2007, 08:26 PM

Artos- german company...the roll up strips..
Athos- confusing...claims to make his own stuff...

Any personal opinions....check your pm

R

brtech · 07-09-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

As to durability - I've heard nothing but good things on the durability of the FWF sabre lames.

Haven't seen enough of the FWF lames to form an opinion yet. The Absolute ultralight appears to be made of the same, or something REALLY close to the same material. The Absolute Lame is NOT lasting. There was some early failures when people washed it. Some of the detergents apparently killed the conductivity, so "plain water wash", whatever good that does, was the recommendation. It's my opinion that even following that advice, you don't get more than a year of use, and some people were getting less than 6 months. I failed a couple that looked newer than that.

I failed A LOT of AF ultralights at SNs. I asked if they were using detergent, and most weren't. Some never washed it. The material was usually in fairly good mechanical condition, but the resistance was 15-20 ohms (5 is the limit).

On the other hand, I personally did not see a single failure on an LP ultralight, which is totally different material. There were some 2-3 year old lames included. One of the other armorers found one with a bad patch, but I didn't

KD5MDK · 07-10-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Shellhouse

Artos- german company...the roll up strips..
Athos- confusing...claims to make his own stuff...

Any personal opinions....check your pm

R

Artos as been around a while, I know a local guy who has one of their masks that looks incredibly old, and Triplette had some on clearance from 1995 two years ago.

bobb121 · 07-10-2007, 12:23 AM

I am wanting to choose between these two brands because of safety, durability, and comfortability.

Arthos is by far the most comfortable, and I am curious as to how much safer they are under new ownership. the arthos online shop is up but ou better know german.

FWF has the best mixture of safety, and comfortability that I have seen. Most and farmost the cheek plate is what impresses me.

the fwf page says that the lame is light weight and durable. I have also gotten nothing but good things about the masks ans lames.

Any input from the armourers that goto world cups and have seen the '07 mask from artos would be appreciated. Last I know is that the '98 mask was weak on the sides.

Thanks for all the input.

KD5MDK · 07-10-2007, 01:24 AM

Is there any particular reason you've ruled out Negrini, Prieur, Leon Paul, etc? I'm not aware of one FIE mask being substantially more safe than another.

bobb121 · 07-10-2007, 01:34 AM

I know from experience that the lp mask is not as comfortable on the face as fwf. And my friend who has gone to world cups advised me against preur and negrini

***Craig*** · 07-10-2007, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brtech

Haven't seen enough of the FWF lames to form an opinion yet. The Absolute ultralight appears to be made of the same, or something REALLY close to the same material.

The materials look similar but are different from what I can tell. I've had a member of the national team using an FWF sabre lame that he beats on in practice and nothing but good feedback from it.

Craig

brtech · 07-11-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

The materials look similar but are different from what I can tell. I've had a member of the national team using an FWF sabre lame that he beats on in practice and nothing but good feedback from it.

Craig

Yeah, it's a little different. The real question for your national team member is does the FWF lame still pass an resistance check for a NAC/SN/World Cup. They don't seem to die, the resistance just gets up over 15-20 ohms. Most boxes, in most circumstances will still work with that high resistance. Also, how is (s)he cleaning it?

Bout ender · 07-17-2007, 03:27 PM

shhhh...u didn't hear this from me at all....the Russian Mafia may have a hit on me for putting this info out....
Athos is an offshoot of escrime-line company that had started up in Cali a few years ago...heard there was a falling out and the people involved had a parting of the ways....anyway, the owner is a russian fellow who has started his own company and is selling chinese equipment...