Time for another weapon.

[Nolano]

Hi Everybody!


THis weekend I'll be heading to Portland for the NAC. To watch, that is. And also get my first chance to hand pick an epee blade.

I'm intrigued by several blades, LM being one of them. I've heard references to issues with them, however, and I wanted to see if there were any more recent experiences. What I've seen from searching is a bit old.

I also wonder about blades in general. I'll basically be looking at most FIE blades, and I'm wondering if there are some I should avoid, or some I should look harder at, for whatever reasons, although lifespan would be high on the list. While I have a job and a bit of disposable income right now, next year I'll just be a broke college student.

In general my search is for a blade with a closer balance than my LP, as well as for something with a bit better point control. I don't, however, want to lose my entire ability to flick. Sometimes my flicks truly save the day.

If it helps, I'm an E rated fencer, I've been fencing just over a year, and my game is a lot of counter attacking, although I've been getting more into actually attacking, myself. It used to be something I almost never did. I'm usually good at keeping distance, and rarely hit hard enough to make my blade bend much.

[fatfencer]

Is probably your best bet... once you get that foible worked in it flicks like my cigarette after sex with 3 hot MILF's... imaginarily well..

But in all seriousness I like BF blue for epee. I did have a bud who absolutely swore by those old LP stamped epee blades. Great epee fencer.... I've only owned BF blue because that's what my coach used.

Anyhoo that's my take on epees...

FF

[samster]

Is probably your best bet... once you get that foible worked in it flicks like my cigarette after sex with 3 hot MILF's... imaginarily well..

But in all seriousness I like BF blue for epee. I did have a bud who absolutely swore by those old LP stamped epee blades. Great epee fencer.... I've only owned BF blue because that's what my coach used.

Anyhoo that's my take on epees...

FF

what's a MILF?

[Nolano]

Is probably your best bet... once you get that foible worked in it flicks like my cigarette after sex with 3 hot MILF's... imaginarily well..

But in all seriousness I like BF blue for epee. I did have a bud who absolutely swore by those old LP stamped epee blades. Great epee fencer.... I've only owned BF blue because that's what my coach used.

Anyhoo that's my take on epees...

FF

My only concern is that I've heard BF's can be very inconsistant, both according to feel and lifespan, and some even breaking within months. I can't afford to have a $130 blade break on me that quickly.

[DangerMouse]

That's why you pick them by hand, which is your intent right?

[KD5MDK]

Is he going to know what to pick for?

I use StMs myself, but I only play at epee. The Vnitis are reputed to be the most durable blades around (excluding the whippy LP non-FIEs).

[keith]

I can't afford to have a $130 blade break on me that quickly.

So you probably don't want an FIE blade if you are going to spend most of your time worrying about the bends it takes. Any blade (FIE or otherwise) can break within 30 days of purchase - that's life.

Take advantage of the presence of multiple vendors. Take some time sifting through the non-fie blades to find something you like the feel of and then buying two or three well matched blades. A better use of your $130 IMNSHO.

[emagdnim]

i personally recommend bf/ tripplette. I've had the same practice epee for almost 5 years. stiff and durable

[Mergs]

what's a MILF?

Not for this forum. Use Google.

[Nolano]

That's why you pick them by hand, which is your intent right?

Is he going to know what to pick for?

I do intend to hand pick it.... And I know basically how I want the blade to feel. I'm not sure how that will relate to its lifespan, however.

[DangerMouse]

For life span you want to make sure that the blade feels smooth along the edges (no sudden changes in width or thickness), bends evenly along it's length, and has a straight groove (not as much a problem in epee as in foil). Beyond that it's pretty much all guess work, but picking that way my BFs lasted for about a year of regular use, which is about all I get out of any blade other than LP.

[ysbadadden]

My experience is that BF FIE's feel better but break faster. Your mileage may vary. Many say that LM FIE's are very durable.

My only concern is that I've heard BF's can be very inconsistant, both according to feel and lifespan, and some even breaking within months. I can't afford to have a $130 blade break on me that quickly.

[Nolano]

I got my new blade today... Found a BF blue that I really liked after looking through a few dozen of them. Oh my, how I like this blade. It's probably the stiffest one they had, which i got because I'm expecting it to loosen up a bit. It's kinda neat that the point is always where I want it to be...

[DangerMouse]

Picked up a couple BFs myself today (and an StM). My wallet hurts...

[Nolano]

Mine too.... I spent $311 today... $183 on the weapon.