Unfamiliar stamp on my foils...and question on grip size

[Timberwolf_CY]

Alright, hoping I get a response on this that is better informed than some of the ones I found in the searches I performed...

Not talking about the debaters...debating the usefulness of the grip I'm about to talk about regarding the blades (probably know what grip it is now...)...

Anyway....I've got 6 Italian foils, 5 of which are "Uhlmann," the 5 being from the fencing post. I am looking to sell them (will post here first, than wait a month...maybe a week if they don't sell) and I would like to be able to post what forge they were...here we go again...forged in.

The mark is very simple. It is simply a "U" on the underside of the blade, on the ricasso I believe (I haven't handled them in about 4 months, I've been in Taiwan, I've kind of forgotten the exact location on the blade). The top of the U is pointed up towards the tip, and the edge of the ricasso, the lines of the U, and the other edge of the ricasso are equidistant from one to the other; the ricasso is perhaps over a half an inch wide/I guess a centimeter and a half.

Not sure what else to say. I would prefer if any respondents could spare me their criticism; for modernity's sake, I am moving on to Viscontis; haven't decided on the exact size yet...I wear a size 8.5/9 glove (that is, inches measured around the hand) and I want a large, but I understand from some preliminary reading that a smaller size may be better; any advice you can give me on that would be fine.

Thanks for your time.

[erooMynohtnA]

Pix plz

[Timberwolf_CY]

Fair enough, I had a feeling my description, however exacting, wouldn't be enough. It will be a few days at least though before I get my own comp at my grandmother's house. There will be a pic then.

Thanks for the pointer.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

I am moving on to Viscontis; haven't decided on the exact size yet...I wear a size 8.5/9 glove (that is, inches measured around the hand) and I want a large, but I understand from some preliminary reading that a smaller size may be better; any advice you can give me on that would be fine.

Thanks for your time.

Your hand size is SLIGHTLY smaller than mine. Everyone has their own preferences. However, after having used French, Belgian, Russian then Viscontis, I finally settled on Viscontis about 10 years ago. I used to use a large Visconti, then I discovered that my point control and blade speed were significantly improved when, after my main weapons failed at a competition, I had to resort to my "backup backup backup" weapon, which had a medium Visconti. I began purchasing mediums. I later found that when I cut off about 1/4 inch of the "front" of the grip, effectively bringing my hand closer to the tip, my point control was even better. Every once in a while, I know I may miss a touch because I have surrendered a little bit of reach. My game improved overall, however.

I hope this helps.

[erik_blank]

B: I am curious about this whole handle size thing your experienced: Do you believe that the control issue was related to the actual grip width/thickness of the large handle, or more to the length of the handle between the palm and the bell guard? I usually use either a German Visconti (large) or a Cetrurlo (only one size for these, and no, I am NOT trying to get into a discussion on legalities here ) and I am wondering if I might improve point control by shortening the length of the handle on these grips...

Do you feel that by moving to the smaller grip that your point control was improved because the balance point moved, thus changing the pivot point, or was it more of an issue that the smaller handle allowed you to relax your grip more?

[Pescados666]

Not talking about the debaters...debating the usefulness of the grip I'm about to talk about regarding the blades (probably know what grip it is now...)...

I was thinking Zivkovic's.

Not sure what else to say. I would prefer if any respondents could spare me their criticism; for modernity's sake, I am moving on to Viscontis; haven't decided on the exact size yet...I wear a size 8.5/9 glove (that is, inches measured around the hand) and I want a large, but I understand from some preliminary reading that a smaller size may be better; any advice you can give me on that would be fine.

Thanks for your time.

I also wear an 8.5 sized glove, I was using a medium viscounti until I went to the Chinese Grip from BG. I prefer the Chinese now.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

B: I am curious about this whole handle size thing your experienced: Do you believe that the control issue was related to the actual grip width/thickness of the large handle, or more to the length of the handle between the palm and the bell guard? I usually use either a German Visconti (large) or a Cetrurlo (only one size for these, and no, I am NOT trying to get into a discussion on legalities here ) and I am wondering if I might improve point control by shortening the length of the handle on these grips...

Do you feel that by moving to the smaller grip that your point control was improved because the balance point moved, thus changing the pivot point, or was it more of an issue that the smaller handle allowed you to relax your grip more?

Great question, Erik. The improved point control has everything to do with the shortened overall length of the weapon. The balance changes, the weight is different...there's almost a pendulum effect; as the pendulum shortens, its movement quickens. I think one would see the same effect by switching from a #5 blade to a #4 blade.

[erik_blank]

What about counterbalancing the grip somehow so as to make the tip lighter? (i.e. similar to a heavier pommel on a french grip...)

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

What about counterbalancing the grip somehow so as to make the tip lighter? (i.e. similar to a heavier pommel on a french grip...)

Another great question. This would work better in a French grip than a pistol grip because the counterbalace can be more linear. The drawbacks to counterbalancing (in a pistol grip) can include unintended point deflection due to non-linear counterbalance as well as an overall-heavier weapon. These disadvantages are minimal, however, for a fencer with a very straight, French-style game.

[Nolano]

I've been thinking of ordering my next weapon with a medium visconti instead of a large... Right now I've got a large Leon Paul visconti, which I love to death, but it seems like it might be just a shade large.

[Timberwolf_CY]

Thank you all for your great responses, this has helped a lot.

What I do know for myself, is that I bought a foil with a large Uhlmann Visconti for my friend as a wedding present. Of course, I had to take it out and see if it was right first so I got a feel for it myself. It felt great. HOWEVER, without actually fencing with it, I have no idea if it was right for me. On top of that, after what you all have said, and what I have read elsewhere, a medium could be better for me. I think what I'll do, besides continue to read you all's responses, is when I order my new foils (I want 3 total, but...) when I order the first two, I'll get one in medium and one in large, and then fence with them both for a while. After I have decided which I like best, I will get the third foil and also order a new grip to replace on the foil I don't like. This seems like a good idea.

Thanks again for the feedback guys.

[Timberwolf_CY]

Sorry to bring this topic up from the dead, but I believe I have an answer, of sorts, to my own question if anyone is interested in hearing it.

I believe the "U" stands for Uhlmann, as all my other Italian blades that I have still are all marked "Uhlmann" on them, and the one exception has both the "U" mark and an "Allstar" mark, which if I recall my lore correctly, Allstar is a subsidiary or some other relation of Uhlmann. I know that the qusetion I raised was about a lone "U" mark, but that was on my first Italian foil, which being two whippy, I gave to a friend of mine as a present for taking over the UCM fencing club for me. I thought this mark was on the other foils as well, until I inspected them all and discovered that the one I gave away, apparently, was the only one to bear the lone "U" mark.

Unfortantely, I don't know that particular foil was an Uhlmann foil or not, as I don't have that foil to take a picture of. Even if I did have it, I couldn't get the picture, as my camera doesn't focus well enough to get a good picture of the mark; I tried already on the "U/Allstar" foil, which I was going to post here.

So, once again, thank you for the help to everyone, and of course if anyone has any further input, besides "Get a new camera," it would be appreciated.

[forethought]

Alright, hoping I get a response on this that is better informed than some of the ones I found in the searches I performed...

Not talking about the debaters...debating the usefulness of the grip I'm about to talk about regarding the blades (probably know what grip it is now...)...

Anyway....I've got 6 Italian foils, 5 of which are "Uhlmann," the 5 being from the fencing post. I am looking to sell them (will post here first, than wait a month...maybe a week if they don't sell) and I would like to be able to post what forge they were...here we go again...forged in.

The mark is very simple. It is simply a "U" on the underside of the blade, on the ricasso I believe (I haven't handled them in about 4 months, I've been in Taiwan, I've kind of forgotten the exact location on the blade). The top of the U is pointed up towards the tip, and the edge of the ricasso, the lines of the U, and the other edge of the ricasso are equidistant from one to the other; the ricasso is perhaps over a half an inch wide/I guess a centimeter and a half.

Not sure what else to say. I would prefer if any respondents could spare me their criticism; for modernity's sake, I am moving on to Viscontis; haven't decided on the exact size yet...I wear a size 8.5/9 glove (that is, inches measured around the hand) and I want a large, but I understand from some preliminary reading that a smaller size may be better; any advice you can give me on that would be fine.

Thanks for your time.

Is the forte built up on the top and bottom of the blade, or is it the same thickness as the ricasso?

If it's built up, sounds like it may be a France Lame blade, and that "U" may be their "FIE" stamp.

Also, let me know if/when you plan to sell them (dry, electric?).