Difference between AF ELITE foil blade and AF ELITE FIE?

[Cookeit]

I used an AF ELITE foil blade today and it was the weirdest blade I have ever seen. All the corners of the blade were rounded off, instead of a rectangle it was almost a circle.

Just wondering if anyone knows the difference between this and its FIE counterpart.

I've heard the FIE model kinks a whole lot... but I really couldn't see how the blade I used today could do that.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

I used an AF ELITE foil blade today and it was the weirdest blade I have ever seen. All the corners of the blade were rounded off, instead of a rectangle it was almost a circle.

Just wondering if anyone knows the difference between this and its FIE counterpart.

I've heard the FIE model kinks a whole lot... but I really couldn't see how the blade I used today could do that.

I have the AF FIE blade. It's wonderful. It CAN kink...pretty much like my multitude of OTHER FIE blades...but it has a great balance. Weird. Almost like admitting that you like Breyers Ice Cream more than Ben and Jerry's.

[erooMynohtnA]

Since non-FIE blades aren't homolugated, Absolute is free to experiment with them. I suspect the rounded edge is an attempt to make the blade lighter and stiffer. It may also make it a little more durable.

I've seen this exact same thing on BG blades, and Vniti does a more understated version of what you're describing.

The AF FIE doesn't look like that. And if it now does, they may have homolugation issues. The majority of people using those blades don't need the certification, though.