Yet another request for blade suggestions

[EdGardner]

I think I am ready to try a slightly more "advanced" blade, currently using STM's and quite happy with them, but I feel I could get alot more finesse out of something "whippier" something with more flexibility. Mine have seen enough bouts that they are broken in and pretty "whippy" but I suspect they will break soon and it might be a good time to try something new?

Not sure I need or want full FIE "flickiness" but what is a good next step for someone who wants to experiment with that sort of thing after about a year on a non-FIE STM blade?

Subtlety welcome

[remistress]

I liked the upper end Absolute blades that are Non-FIE. Mine lasted for a pretty long time. I, however, now buy only Vnitis...the lifetime of the blade and the consistency of their product are what did it for me. Hope that helps!

[Cookeit]

I moved directly from non-FIE sTm's to vniti FIE's.

I did however try an LP Etoile in there someplace, it was EXTREMELY flexible.

If you want flicky, this is your blade.
If you want to be able to do actions in addition to flicks, don't buy it.

I too, recommend the AF Elite, non-FIE blade.
My school team had them.
They had a weird, rolled-edge, which I would think would lengthen life of the blade.
These were more flexible than my sTm's.

[gatsby]

I'd stay away from the Etoille.

It starts nice and flicky, but soon becomes unusably flexible where every hit has to be either a 100% straight attack or a flick. It pretty much eliminated the ability to consistently land angled ripostes or disengage attacks.

Yes, mine was really that bad.

LP's FIE blades, however, are wonderful.

[Foil_Character]

I'd stay away from the Etoille.

It starts nice and flicky, but soon becomes unusably flexible where every hit has to be either a 100% straight attack or a flick. It pretty much eliminated the ability to consistently land angled ripostes or disengage attacks.

Yes, mine was really that bad.

LP's FIE blades, however, are wonderful.

What about the Blaise Frere? Would you happen to know how that compares in flexibility to the Etoile or the France?

[Timberwolf_CY]

I would HIGHLY recommend upgrading to FIE as soon as possible. As has been noted in other threads, the FIE Maraging blades generally last a ton longer, are more durable, don't get kinks as bad [and when they do they work out more easily]. Some are flickier than others. I myself also own 3 FIE Maraging Vnitis, and though slightly whippy to me at first, I have grown on them, and they on me. I haven't used them a great deal in the 5-6 months I've had them, but from what I understand they get fairly flicky with fair use, so there's that. Mine, with the metal handles and TI bellguards, have excellent balance for me, the blade itself is just wonderful so far, I've only gotten one major kink, and I worked it out immediately with no problem.

I did a poll a while ago, Master Blades-You-Use Poll that has 9 major blades in the poll (along with an "other" option, making 10 options) and a full page of good discussion (the second page boiled down to very base criticism of my use of Uhlmann Italians, which I have since given up, obviously). Anyway, I created the poll to see what everyone was using, and I got some good responses. I suggest you check it out, there's some good broad feedback there.

[EdGardner]

Sounds like I need to find someone at the club with a Vniti so I can have a looksee...

Are there appreciable differences in weight between any of the above?

[emagdnim]

What about the Blaise Frere? Would you happen to know how that compares in flexibility to the Etoile or the France?

BF blades are much stiffer, not very whippy at all.

The paul france is much softer than the etoile, I would only recommend the france if you know you like more flexible blades.

some people also complain about the LP foil blades durability but I've had my paul france blade for about 10 months now and no real signs of real damage. A very strong bend but no kinks.

[Craig]

Sounds like I need to find someone at the club with a Vniti so I can have a looksee...

Are there appreciable differences in weight between any of the above?

Ed,

The three blades that I fence some foil with:
- Vniti
- G-Pro
- BF White

Each have slightly different characteristics. The Vnitis of today are a bit more flexible / flicky than those of 2 or 3 years ago. They come "out of the box" feeling already worked in. That has good and bad points to it.

The Vniti is one of the best values out there. They last the longest out of the FIE blades that I've owned.

The G-Pro has good characteristics also with the slightly heavier forte and they way it tends to bend / flick right at the foible.

The BF is what most of the top fencers use. It's a bit more on the stiff side starting out, but you can work it in to make it do some nice flicks.

Craig
Craig

[HDG]

I have mostly StM FIEs on my foils, and I have found that they "loosen up" into nice flicky blades fairly quickly.

[AdamH]

Hi Ed,

Second for the Vniti if the BFs are pricey. There's a punchy, heavy handed fencer at my club who finally picked up a Vniti, last month.

I came to the club on Tuesday and he pumped me in the ribs, counterattacking my attack which started miles ago. He's straightening out the blade and says how fantastic these Vnitis are, "I done got a 90' bend straight up last fight and look, this Vniti is not even kinked!"

[EdGardner]

I'll try and lay hands on one but it sounds like the Vniti is the way to go.

[Foil.Leicester]

I'd go for Vniti or the LP Budget Maraging in no particular order
Both make consistent blades and with both you can get a controllable whippiness out of them and do all the point control stuff you need to. Also, neither are as expensive as some of the other big bad FIE blades which is always nice :P

[Nolano]

I really like BF's, but I like stiff blades. Although on the rare occasion I've fenced foil I've managed to do a back flick or three with an almost new BF white.

[chinbeard]

I think I am ready to try a slightly more "advanced" blade, currently using STM's and quite happy with them, but I feel I could get alot more finesse out of something "whippier" something with more flexibility. Mine have seen enough bouts that they are broken in and pretty "whippy" but I suspect they will break soon and it might be a good time to try something new?

Not sure I need or want full FIE "flickiness" but what is a good next step for someone who wants to experiment with that sort of thing after about a year on a non-FIE STM blade?

Subtlety welcome

Wait a minute, are FIE foil blades more flexible than non-FIE?

[erooMynohtnA]

Depends on the batch of the FIE blades and the batch of the non-FIE blades.

[EdGardner]

Got a Vniti from FdN, and gave it a whirl last night. I think I can get used to this, though its alot whippier than my STM's, It definitely changes the way I play the game, but in an interesting way.

Cool stuff.

[wescfencer011]

the BF blade depend on batch. the one i have is ulhmann FIE 403. i like it is a stiff blade. but i can also flick with it just as well. my stm blade did not break on me but loss it temper and stay bend.

however if wrippienese is what you looking for a vinti is the way to go. but i like the prieur blade also. never try the AF FIE yet. but the chevilier blade my friend have is holding up for him very well (he hit hard).

but i don't know about the FLICK master from leon paul. any body know please let me know how it feel.