Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Cookeit · 10-03-2007, 08:20 PM

This is probably a stupid topic, but does anyone know what kinds of blades the pros use?

For example, what foil blade does Joppich use?

Neinteen · 10-03-2007, 08:21 PM

I think some fencer's have their own custom blades or something.

Or had a blade that they were known for using and it became their ™. Idk how that story goes.

KD5MDK · 10-03-2007, 08:51 PM

Other than you're 100% wrong...

The LP blades named after fencers (Golubitsky, Kolobkov and Poz) were developed after they became famous, and may not ever have actually been used by them.

FoilyDeath · 10-03-2007, 09:08 PM

The "name" blades are LP blades designed to the "specifications" of the fencers themselves. I doubt they use them themselves, apart from perhaps for sponsorship purposes. Most top fencers use exactly the same blades as the rest of us.

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 10-03-2007, 09:57 PM

Whatever their sponsor gives them.

RebelFencer · 10-03-2007, 10:01 PM

It isn't the blade that makes the pro. Kolobkov could kick ass if you put him in a Triplette suit with a non-fie stm. That said there are subtle advantages to certain blades, but they aren't the end all be all.

erooMynohtnA · 10-04-2007, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookeit

This is probably a stupid topic, but does anyone know what kinds of blades the pros use?

For example, what foil blade does Joppich use?

Who knows what Joppich uses. It doesn't matter. If you stole his foil from him, it wouldn't change your game in the slightest.

Other than FIE, elite athletes use all types of blades. I've seen Andras Horanyi and Dmitri Kirk-Gordon using StM (both OSU, maybe that's what they're given). I saw Jakub Jedrkowiak (ND) using an Uhlmann branded BF blue, I think.

I've seen other elite fencers fencing, but I've never bothered to look at or remember what they're using, because that's totally unimportant. Of course, if you're just curious, you'll have to look around when you're at a tournament.

Actually, at a weekend fencing thing, Felicia Zimmerman broke my foil in half with a beat (and planted her tip solidly in my chest immediately after). She let me use one of her foils, because I didn't have another with me. It did not help me one bit.

clonardo · 10-04-2007, 03:27 AM

The best epeeist I know (competed in a few World Cups, currently kicking some but on the collegiate circuit) has no idea what weapons she uses. She goes with "whatever Coach hands me" method of picking weapons. I peeked through her bag, and there was a real variety (Allstar, Vniti, and StM FIE). Same basic thing goes for most of the good sabre fencers I've ever known.

As others have said, the brand of your blade won't change your game

Barry Paul · 10-04-2007, 04:22 AM

Golubitsky, Kolobkov and Pozdnyakov, Have all endorsed their Branded equipment. In Golubitsky case he had just retired from top level fencing but was particularly insistant on the blade design before he would approve it. Now we are in discussion about changing the blades Golubitsky 2, as the original blade was used/design for the old timing style fencing. Kolobkov endorsed his branded blade and it is, when I last asked him, the one he uses. Pozdnyakov in the same manner help design and uses the Pozdnykov style blade (presently out of stock for some months)

At the Atlantic Olympics Pozdnykov arrived late to the Leon Paul stand to find the only blades left was some etoile sabre blades. We supplied two sabres with light weight guards and etoile blades. Coming off the piste having won the individual title he said the etoile blade was 'good for him', coming off the piste having just won the team event he said the etoile blade was 'still good for him'. So prehaps we should re-brand the etoile blades or does it prove class fencers like him don't entirely rely on their equipment to win?

erooMynohtnA · 10-04-2007, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry Paul

Golubitsky, Kolobkov and Pozdnyakov, Have all endorsed their Branded equipment. In Golubitsky case he had just retired from top level fencing but was particularly insistant on the blade design before he would approve it. Now we are in discussion about changing the blades Golubitsky 2, as the original blade was used/design for the old timing style fencing. Kolobkov endorsed his branded blade and it is, when I last asked him, the one he uses. Pozdnyakov in the same manner help design and uses the Pozdnykov style blade (presently out of stock for some months)

At the Atlantic Olympics Pozdnykov arrived late to the Leon Paul stand to find the only blades left was some etoile sabre blades. We supplied two sabres with light weight guards and etoile blades. Coming off the piste having won the individual title he said the etoile blade was 'good for him', coming off the piste having just won the team event he said the etoile blade was 'still good for him'. So prehaps we should re-brand the etoile blades or does it prove class fencers like him don't entirely rely on their equipment to win?

So what would be the change to the G-Pro? I like it right now. Mine got slightly more flexible that I like after a year, but it's still one of my favorite blades.

Also, saber fencers are notoriously unconcerned with the blade they use.

Barry Paul · 10-04-2007, 08:33 AM

Minor changes just to make the forte region slightly larger/heavier and the blades stiffness range more towards the stiffest allowed.
.

KD5MDK · 10-04-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

So prehaps we should re-brand the etoile blades or does it prove class fencers like him don't entirely rely on their equipment to win?

I think the latter is more likely.
Did he not bring any weapons with him to Atlanta?

fatfencer · 10-05-2007, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry Paul

Minor changes just to make the forte region slightly larger/heavier and the blades stiffness range more towards the stiffest allowed.
.

An ultra light super stiff version of this new FIE blade? I will be waiting for this blade.

FF

I_luv_saber · 10-05-2007, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Also, saber fencers are notoriously unconcerned with the blade they use.

Tell that to my blackened hands!

nyacfencing · 10-05-2007, 11:02 AM

I can tell you that almost all of the top US epeeists use BF (I believe mostly Uhlmann/Alstar). It's probably because many of them train with Aladar, who has you doing full extensions into him from a 3-inch distance (no other blade would possibly stand-up to that).

Personally, I have tried almost everything. I never thought it would be worth the switch to the BF due to the price... thinking that three cheap blades were going to cumulatively last longer than one BF anyways. Now that I have completely converted, I can never go back. They are expensive, and boy do you wince when one snaps... but it happens very infrequently and the blades are just so much better to work with. They are more balanced, give you more control, and don't have to be re-straightened every touch. I never realized how much time I spent re-straightening those cheap blades until I switched.

Mergs · 10-05-2007, 02:23 PM

Pros?!?!?!?!??!?? OMG, IS THE PFL BACK????????? (runs screaming, naked into the woods....)

Fencergrl · 10-05-2007, 02:32 PM

pokey · 10-05-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

Naked runs are rarely as interesting as one would think they might be.

Fencergrl · 10-05-2007, 03:00 PM

Awww.... thanks a lot! NOW I have the vision of wayyyy to many body parts giggling and flopping.

Ahhhhh someone scrub my eyeballs!

Purple Fencer · 10-05-2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

Awww.... thanks a lot! NOW I have the vision of wayyyy to many body parts giggling and flopping.

Ahhhhh someone scrub my eyeballs!

*hands Fencergirl the brain-scrubber*

Just give it back...I saw enough of Mike's bod during armorer's college! (going for a run one morning....skeeny legs!)