Uhlmann Ultralight Epee Guards

[D'Artagnan1673]

Has anyone had experiences with them as to how long they last? I've been using one since early May and I am starting to develope some good dents.

[JEC]

light typically means aluminum which is less sturdy than steel.

[D'Artagnan1673]

I was knew that there had to be a drawback to the ultralight guards.

Still, I think this guard will probably hold up for at least 1-2 months more. If that is so, then I can handle replacing them twice a year or more for the added quickness.

[damianip]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by D'Artagnan1673:
<strong>I was knew that there had to be a drawback to the ultralight guards.

Still, I think this guard will probably hold up for at least 1-2 months more. If that is so, then I can handle replacing them twice a year or more for the added quickness.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">It depends on your opponent. I've had many an opponent hit my guard with great force dead on (my son being the biggest offender) while others make little, if any, contact.

I like the lighter guards but not enough to be reassembling my weapons before the wire goes bad again.

Paolo

[fred]

I like them. With Uhlmann Ultra blades, and a short ortho grip you get a very light weapon. They actually seem pretty sturdy, I haven't had any edge munging from dropping, getting kicked, banged around in bag after a year. They will dent. If you had a titanium alloy guard some gorilla would manage to ball peen it eventually.

Carbon fiber would probably be undentable and light, and conducts. Not shiny, though.

<small>[ 07-28-2002, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: fred ]</small>

[D'Artagnan1673]

Yeah, Damian,

I was worrying a "touch" about messing around that wire too much.

My fencers don't hit too hard, but I love to use my guard to defend all shots.

[Gav]

I use the LP ultra-lights. I would recomend them to anyone who is using a V blade. Funnily enough I recently had a small episode with one.

I was fencing someone at my club, the bout wasn't particularly vicious, yet she managed to puncture it with her epee tip. I felt it was a bit of a freak incident as I've never seen it happen before. I sent an email to LP asking what the expected life expectancy for one of these is (especially as you pay more for it) and they have been markedly silent. Use 'em if you want, I find my arm gets less tired. I will continue to use mine.

[veeco]

I only use the ultra-lights. They get dented and all, but they hold up pretty well.

Of course, they don't have the nice round profile anymore, but I have never had one die on me.

I have seen the old type of bell guards getting pretty bad though. I used to have a France Lames that just broke in 2 pieces one time.

All in all, usually most bell guards can live for like 5-10 years without having to change them.