12-01-2008, 11:00 PM
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#1 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4
| AF Elite blade comparison?
I recently got to use an AF Elite electric foil blade, and in comparison to other foils that I've used, it seems very heavy and stiff.
For example, my friend and I met today to get some practice in, and he just got his stuff up to school over break. He has three different foils, each with BG blades. The weight balance and flicky-ness of them is much, much different than the AF Elite blade, which is making me second-guess my choice as a purchase.
Has anyone else experienced this? I had read a few reviews saying the rolled edges seem nice and an overall positive review of the blade, but no one said that it feels relatively heavy and off-balance compared to other blades. | 
| | | And now for this message... |
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12-01-2008, 11:30 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Moon, USA
Posts: 495
| It might take some getting used to, but you'll be thankful when all his blades have snapped a month from now, and yours are still going strong. | |
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12-02-2008, 11:12 PM
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#3 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4
| Do you think it would be a good idea to buy a practice foil, or would it be fine to fence relatively regularly with this blade? | |
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12-03-2008, 11:24 AM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 246
| BG blades are garbage, can't comment on the AF ones though, but my club has a bunch of the BG ones and yeah, as armorer, it hurts inside... ( | |
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12-03-2008, 01:08 PM
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#5 | | Le Picador
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 3,250
| BG blades are garbage. AF blades are not considerably better. It is, however, uncharacteristic of the AF blade to be stiff and heavy. They're typically light and a little whippy, so maybe yours will last a little longer.
Do yourself a favor and don't buy house brand blades.
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12-03-2008, 01:16 PM
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#6 | | Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 43
| My AF elite broke in under a month, I remember it snapped somewhere under the tip tape.
Get a BF. Always. | |
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12-03-2008, 01:19 PM
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#7 | | Equipment Vendor
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Brunswick, NJ
Posts: 327
| Is it an AF FIE Elite? The Elite blades are rounded and flexible, which one do you have? | |
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12-03-2008, 07:21 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 790
| Pfft, I don't care what you guys say.
I think the elite blade is perhaps the best non-FIE blade on the market.
But yeah, they should be light and whippy, not heavy
If the blade feels "off-balance" you need to re-cant it.
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12-04-2008, 10:47 PM
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#9 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4
| It feels stiff, and it does not whip around hardly at all. In comparison to the practice foil that I have with an AF advanced Gold blade, the gold blade is a bit more flexible.
The AF Elite blade I have is the rounded one, somewhat gold in color.
As to the response about buying house blades, I'm trying to take it easy on my wallet since I'm just getting into the sport. Any more comments about buying higher quality stuff can be accompanied with a check or money-order to my name.
It feels "off balance" to me in relation to the other one, or my friend's blades because it's pretty heavy in relation to the grip. The CG is at least an inch or so further up than the blades my friend has. (With grip, same size vis). | |
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12-05-2008, 12:20 AM
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#10 | | Le Picador
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 3,250
| Yeah, StM is so outrageously expensive.
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12-05-2008, 12:16 PM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Georgia
Posts: 361
| Quote:
Originally Posted by djh2  It feels stiff, and it does not whip around hardly at all. In comparison to the practice foil that I have with an AF advanced Gold blade, the gold blade is a bit more flexible.
The AF Elite blade I have is the rounded one, somewhat gold in color.
As to the response about buying house blades, I'm trying to take it easy on my wallet since I'm just getting into the sport. Any more comments about buying higher quality stuff can be accompanied with a check or money-order to my name.
It feels "off balance" to me in relation to the other one, or my friend's blades because it's pretty heavy in relation to the grip. The CG is at least an inch or so further up than the blades my friend has. (With grip, same size vis). | Well, what you like does not mean what is good. You may be simply used to your friends BG blades. You shouldnt really bash AF blade base on your very limited experience with blades. You cant say the AF blade is off balance, it just has a different balance point. if you are so crazy about your friend's BG blades, why not get one of those?
Most people on this forum probably swear BF and Viniti and the house blades are all the same at a lower quality compare to those FIE blades. All in all, you get what you pay for. So you should be happy with a functioning blade with a modest lift time for what you paid for it. | |
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12-05-2008, 01:00 PM
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#12 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4
| Quote:
Originally Posted by BySword Well, what you like does not mean what is good. You may be simply used to your friends BG blades. You shouldnt really bash AF blade base on your very limited experience with blades. You cant say the AF blade is off balance, it just has a different balance point. if you are so crazy about your friend's BG blades, why not get one of those?
Most people on this forum probably swear BF and Viniti and the house blades are all the same at a lower quality compare to those FIE blades. All in all, you get what you pay for. So you should be happy with a functioning blade with a modest lift time for what you paid for it. |
Chill out man, I'm not bashing anyone. And i'm not saying I like his blades.
I'm simply stating I am a noob fencer and I notice a difference between the two. I could give the two blades to a blind man and he could make the same conclusions.
I stated the blade balance feels different, "off balance" in comparison to other blades. There's a difference in stating something is off balance or feels off balance. One is a quantitative statement, the other is qualitative. A car can "feel" fast, but that doesn't mean it really is. I'm just stating the blade "feels" like it has a different weight distribution in relation to the gripping point. There, the moment about the grip if you want to get technical.
I don't know what I like. I was just asking (if you read my first post) How the blade is supposed to compare. I just wanted to know if the blade is supposed to feel relatively stiff and heavy compared to other blades, and gave Blue Gauntlet as a comparative medium.
And the thing about sTm, yeah it cost the same as this if I got it in a complete. I figured I'd go with Absolute because I heard good things about this Elite blade. What's the worst that could happen, it breaks and I buy a new one? Thats how I learn about this stuff. I read what I can, make a purchase and if it craps out.. well Oh well, repeat on something else.
--I just called Absolute, they said they have a stiffer and a lighter elite blade. The stiffer blade is heavier, which is the one I was sent. Problem solved.
Last edited by djh2; 12-05-2008 at 01:36 PM..
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