Leon Paul Epee Blades

[samster]

I've done a search on this with few results so I'm just askin'.

I just started epee about 1 month ago and picked up a Chevalier FIE and a Leon Paul non-FIE (rolled steel).

Bottom line, the Chevalier is heavy and stiff. The Leon Paul is more my speed.

So I was thinking about getting the FIE LP, but it's a lot more. Would anyone be willing to explain what are the differences between the FIE and non versions - besides $62.50 wired?

The lower-end LP seems pretty bullet proof. Sitting in my sweaty gear bag, it has yet to develop any kind of rust (and I sweat a lot.)

Epee is fun, but still do foil with my other hand.

Thanks,
-Sam

[DangerMouse]

Unless you need an FIE blade, it's not worth the difference in cost.

[fencerchica]

I just broke my non-FIE LP epee blade on Monday during a fleche. :'-( It snapped cleanly between the middle and the foible (more towards the foible). I thought they weren't typically supposed to break in that way, but were subject instead to failing via catastrophic bends that they wouldn't recover from? That said, I've been using it since 2005 (!!) and have given it some really harsh use over those years during my tendency to keep foil distance while fencing epee. And since switching to epee this summer, it's been getting particularly heavy use as my main training weapon several nights a week. I'm really happy with the value I got out of it.

Anyway, I have no experience with the FIE LP epee blade, but the non-FIE was a real trooper (although evidently they do snap eventually). It's fun how flicky they are, and they're pretty laterally stable. Beats are a little harder to pull off with them than with a Vniti though.

[catwood1]

I have minimal experiance with either, but from what I hear from everyone, is that the non-FIE has nearly equal lifespan, and the periferals are all identicle.

[Craig]

The FIE Leon Paul blade is made from maraging steel and is FIE approved. The non-FIE Leon Paul blade is extremely durable but not FIE approved for FIE World Cup competitions.

If you don't need an FIE blade, then the difference in blade longevity is not worth the increased cost.

Craig

[CvilleFencer]

As stated, the main practical difference between the two in lifespan and feel is that you can use one in FIE events and not the other. If you are not going to be fencing the international circuit anytime soon, stick with the non-FIE blade. Our club weapons for epee are all either LP or Vniti and they none of them have ever broken in going on 2 years of heavy use. The LP is the best non-FIE blade out there in terms of lifespan and light weight. Do note that this is pretty much unique to the LP epee blades. Most other blades you are going to get substantially more life out of the Maraging/FIE blade.

[samster]

I've been using it since 2005 (!!) and have given it some really harsh use over those years...

Wow.

Thanks everyone for the advice/clarification.

I was just at the NAC in St. Louis (I live there... or is it here... regardless), and I picked up another LP non-FIE from the Absolute table.

[Alex_Paul]

We have been out of stock for a while as we ran out of steel...


The steel has 6 month lead time, processed in 3 different countries and is uniquely produced for LP!!

We have some plans in the pipe for LP Epee blades. There will be some minor changes to the existing pair's shape and then we will have a new folded steel blade available some time in the second quarter of next year.

In fact we also have some changes to our foil blade lineup which will mean dropping some blade. If you like the super flicky budget FIE now may be a good time to stock up! We will then introduce a new "range" which will be a completely unique way to buy your perfect blade. At the same time we hope to have our new point out. Don't worry though, the new point will be backward compatible with the existing ones.

[Tomas N]

At the same time we hope to have our new point out. Don't worry though, the new point will be backward compatible with the existing ones.

Hi Alex,

I take it that you are talking about a new foil point? Want to give some details about the new design? My unsolicited advice is that it is more important that it works well than it is that it is backward compatible.

Tomas

[Alex_Paul]

Hi Alex,

I take it that you are talking about a new foil point? Want to give some details about the new design? My unsolicited advice is that it is more important that it works well than it is that it is backward compatible.

Tomas

Hi Thomas, we will be inroducing both new foil and new epee points to replace the GT versions. Details should follow soon.

[Belegur]

In fact we also have some changes to our foil blade lineup which will mean dropping some blade. If you like the super flicky budget FIE now may be a good time to stock up! We will then introduce a new "range" which will be a completely unique way to buy your perfect blade. At the same time we hope to have our new point out. Don't worry though, the new point will be backward compatible with the existing ones.

I seem to recall either you or Barry mentioning that a Mk II version of the Golubitsky Pro was in development a year or so back. Are we eventually going to see this, or was the idea shelved?

[damianip]

We have been out of stock for a while as we ran out of steel...


The steel has 6 month lead time, processed in 3 different countries and is uniquely produced for LP!!

We have some plans in the pipe for LP Epee blades. There will be some minor changes to the existing pair's shape and then we will have a new folded steel blade available some time in the second quarter of next year.

SNIP

Alex,

The old reliable "I love them and they better not change" conventional LP epee blades will still be available, yes?

Paolo

[Alex_Paul]

I seem to recall either you or Barry mentioning that a Mk II version of the Golubitsky Pro was in development a year or so back. Are we eventually going to see this, or was the idea shelved?

Shelved I am afraid but the new foil blade system will blow them out of the water

The standard LP epee's will change slightly. They will be made a bit stiffer because although they are the stiffest available laterally they are slightly less stiff vertically. Some people say they don't get as much vertical point control because of this fact. It will not be a huge change but it will make a bit of a difference.

Alex

[agyee95616]

I also hope that the standard LP Epee blade doesn't change much -- it's wonderful!

[Gav]

Wow.

Thanks everyone for the advice/clarification.

I was just at the NAC in St. Louis (I live there... or is it here... regardless), and I picked up another LP non-FIE from the Absolute table.

That's nothing. I have a maraging blade stamped 1994. That's an old blade. Older than I've been doing Epee in fact.

[JEC]

Alex or Barry,

When your company began manufacturing electric epee blades? Electric epee started in the 40's, isn't it? Were the same type of points used at the beginning? How have they change over time? How can you identify your earlier work? In 1999, I acquired a working but very stiff LP complete epee from dealer who bought it within a lot of an estate auction. The inside of the bellguard has LP engraved and the blade is also stamped, I believe.

Thanks,

JEC

P.S. I will post a few photos as soon as I can.

[piste off]

Shelved I am afraid but the new foil blade system will blow them out of the water

The standard LP epee's will change slightly. They will be made a bit stiffer because although they are the stiffest available laterally they are slightly less stiff vertically. Some people say they don't get as much vertical point control because of this fact. It will not be a huge change but it will make a bit of a difference.

Alex

When will they be available? I was thinking of trying the LP epee blades as I want something with a little more flex than the BFs, but the current ones seem a little too whippy.

R-