Between LP and Vniti?

[K O'N]

I'm looking for a good sub $100 epee blade between an LP and a Vniti; the LP is a feather, and some of my kids like it. The Vniti is a club, and one of my kids likes it. I think he's going to convert one or two more. But what about something in between?

So I look, and I see StM FIE and StM FIE-N in my price bracket. All the better since what I really want is something that feels like a Dinamo, but lasts better. On the Fnet page for the FIE I see this:

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# StM-FIE ("maragen") blades were first homologated in 1999. At the beginning of 2000 these blades confirmed their highest quality during the next homologation. The average value of cyclic wear at the first homologation was , while at the second homologation it was 21 043 cycles, which is more than three times better than the FIE normative requirements.

# StM-FIE N blades were homologated in April, 2000, with the average value of cyclic wear of 18 143. It is 2.5 times higher than the FIE norm and even higher than similar characteristics for most companies manufacturing blades of "maragen" steel! The blades were awarded SEMI FIE commission certificate # 0002 dated 13.07.2000.

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Huh. One data point, but still. 21/18 = 1.17 So a 17% increase in durability. The prices are $95 and $55. 95/55 = 1.73 So a 73% increase in price.

So, my question is, are the FIE-N blades noticeably bad before they break? Dinamos these days are coathangers, nowhere near as good as in the late 90s. I don't want an FIE version of that behavior. What I'd really like is something as durable as a Vniti but less tip-heavy.

Any comments on these two, or another sub $100 FIE epee blade in this category?

Thanks

K O'N

[Stormbringer]

Prieur/Chevalier blades have served me well, so far, and the FIE maraging epee blades are within the desired price range (depending on whether you want it pre-wired, and who you're buying it from; FDN sells for $94(bare), BG and Absolute for $99(bare)/$105(pre-wired), LP-USA for $143 (no clear indication, but pic and placement on page imply pre-wired) .

[DangerMouse]

I really like the StM maraging blades. They feel very similar to the BF, but are cheaper and a little more durable. The StM FIE-N blades are not worth the money since the durability really is not as good. I don't like the LP or the Vniti because they don't feel right. The LP don't bend the same way as normal forged blades and tend to feel to flexible. They are, however, the most durable blade you can buy for your money. The Vniti are either way too heavy or way too flexible for my taste.

To give you an idea, right now all of our club epees use LP blades because they last longer than anything else we can afford. All of my students that compete seriously decided they like the StM FIE better and have bought those. I use BF for my competition weapons, but I can't afford them for practice so I use StM FIE and recently Ballestra (cheap, but really stiff and feel nice).

[Nolano]

The STM FIE-N blades have only a 17% reduction in durability by the FIE tests, which involve ONLY bending cycles. Maraging steel is used because it is very effective at slowing crack propogation, an effect that the FIE testing does not test for. 17% in theory, in reality I think it's probably more like 50%.
The bending cycles are not a good "apples to apples" comparison of blade durability in real use, as the test is very different from the real use of the blade.