What is this that im using?

[Markzee]

it's an FIE blade stamped with STM. and the digit '1' on each side of the 'T'
also on the stamp is the year '2003' its gold in color.

anybody have more info on this, what level of fencers shld be using this blade, and whether this is still in production? is it by allstar?

thks!

[SJCFU#2]

it's an FIE blade stamped with STM. and the digit '1' on each side of the 'T'
also on the stamp is the year '2003' its gold in color.

anybody have more info on this, what level of fencers shld be using this blade, and whether this is still in production? is it by allstar?

thks!

You didn't specify which weapon, however I'm guessing it is something similar to either this (foil) or this (épée).

It was manufactured by SM (commonly referred to as STM but the T is actually supposed to be a sword placed in-between the company's initials). It is a Ukrainian forge which produces both FIE and non-FIE blades for a number of vendors, some of whom will put their own names on them as well. Allstar sometimes buys STM blades however they buy blades from other forges as well.

STM FIE blades are generally considered mid-range - not as nice a feel as a BF or as durable as a Vniti, but also generally not as expensive (except when someone runs a special, such as Craig is currently doing with Vniti blades). This particular blade was most likely produced in 2003, although they probably produced several different batches of blades that year this may not help much if you want to identify a particularly good (or bad) batch of blades.

The gold color is a protective coating intended to keep the blade from rusting between the time it leaves the factory and eventually is sold to an individual fencer. It also provides some degree of protection once the blade is put into use, however the protection will slowly be lost under the stress of regular use.

Color has also sometimes been used in an attempt to distinguish between different batches of blades with varying characteristics (such as stiffness). There was some discussion as to which colors signified which characteristics but that was several years ago so you may have to search to find them. Also bear in mind that there is often enough variation within a single batch to allow you to find some blades in the "flexible" batch which are stiffer than some blades in the "stiffer" batch.