Can't figure out this foil stamp

[FreshPrinceofEWU]

I used the search function and couldn't find the info I needed so here I am.

I'm looking at some electric foils with "D/4 s 2004" stamped in them. I'm assuming 2004 is the year they were forged and possibly the 4 is the blade size but I could be totally wrong.

If anyone has any knowledge about blade stamps I'm really curious about who makes this blade.

Also it may be a good idea to make a list of characters get stamped into blades so next time I could decipher it myself.

Thanks

[Zilverzmurfen]

I've found this webpage to be a really nice resource for recognising blade stamps: http://www.clfc.org/armory/blades.htm

Personally, I would guess the "4" refers to the month the blade was forged. Though I'm basing this on the fact that I've never seen or heard of any size 4 blades. (Not saying there aren't any, just that I've not seen them.)

[FreshPrinceofEWU]

Thanks Zilver, I couldn't find what I was looking for on that page but i'm sure it will come in handy some other time.

[FrSpike]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Personally, I would guess the "4" refers to the month the blade was forged. Though I'm basing this on the fact that I've never seen or heard of any size 4 blades. (Not saying there aren't any, just that I've not seen them.)

Zivkovic sells foils with a "#4" blade size. In fact, it's the default option on their site for some reason...you have to select #5 from the drop-down menu.

http://www.zivkovic.com/item.jsp?web_id=120

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Personally, I would guess the "4" refers to the month the blade was forged. Though I'm basing this on the fact that I've never seen or heard of any size 4 blades. (Not saying there aren't any, just that I've not seen them.)

The number "4" is most likely the blade size.

Size 4 blade may be almost unheard of for epee blades (for some strange reason no one wants to give up that extra little bit of blade length - go figure) however some people favor them for foil. IIRC Edew sometimes uses a size 4 blade.

[Robert Smith]

It should be easy enough to tell if the "4" is a size marking - just measure the blade. My understanding is that sizes equate to inches, so that a size 4 should be one inch shorter than a size 5.

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by Robert Smith

My understanding is that sizes equate to inches, so that a size 4 should be one inch shorter than a size 5.

Not exactly right* but close enough for government work.

* blades are measured in metric units, not inches, and tthere's no official definition for a "size 4" blade

[Pescados666]

Looking on ebay in my boredom I found this. Might answer some of your questions.

the jacket is size 52 brand Allstar the knickers are also Allstar size 50 the vest is size 52 brand Uhlmann these are all German. The foil writing is D/4 s 2004

[FreshPrinceofEWU]

Actually thats exactly what I was looking at. The guy who is selling it has no idea though. I need to be saiving my money for FIE blades anyway.