Difference between BF and SM

[mingfai]

hi,

In Ulhmann, four kinds of FIE blades are available:
Maraging blade "SM" (FIE)
Maraging blade "SM" (coloured) (FIE)
Maraging blade "BF Ultra" (FIE)
Maraging blade "BF Ultra" -blue- (FIE)

What are the difference between SM and BF? except SM may be coloured.

To my understand, blue BF blade is a bit "harder" than normal BF, am I correct?

What are you opinion on which of the above are the best? (for which type of fencer/ in whatever situation... )

thanks for your information in advance.

regards,
mingfai

[veeco]

BF = Bondage F...
SM = Sado Masochism...

[achilleus]

Veeco,

Just what are you an expert in, hmmm?

[mingfai]

well... um... thanks for your "creative" reply.

Anyway, I got an insight from your post. So far as I know, BF and SM are from different manufacturer. (well.. fortunately, it is not called "Sado... / Bondage ..." ) If anybody get the name of that manufacturer, maybe I can look up their website and see what they say.

regards,
mingfai

[veeco]

Originally posted by mingfai
well... um... thanks for your "creative" reply.

Anyway, I got an insight from your post. So far as I know, BF and SM are from different manufacturer. (well.. fortunately, it is not called "Sado... / Bondage ..." ) If anybody get the name of that manufacturer, maybe I can look up their website and see what they say.

regards,
mingfai

Yes, they come from a different forge...

BF = Blaise Freres (French forge)

SM I don't know what that translates to, but I think it's a russian forge.

BF blades are stiffer than the SM blades.

In SM blades the coloring doesn't mean anything except that: it's a different color.

BF blades do have a meaning to the color coding. I think (but armorers will correct me if I'm wrong) that the blue blades are less stiff than the regular silver blades.

Personally, I use SM blades, but I prefer BF, though they are hard to find sometimes.

SM blades are a little lighter than BF.

[neevel]

Uhlmann currently does not make any blades of their own, but rather "badge-engineers" blades from other manufacturers.

BF is from Blaise Freres forge in France.
The BF blue blades tend to soften up a bit more than the white (both remain well in the stiff range).

SM would be originally from STM in Ukraine. They're a bit lighter in weight than BF, and not as stiff (though far from whippy).

Both should be fine from the durability standpoint, so it's really a matter of what feels best to you.

Blades from both forges are available from other vendors, often at a lower price than Uhlmann-badged blades, so you might want to shop around.

-Dave

[Gav]

On the subject of BF 'blue' blades. I bought one recently from Allstar (they were the only vendor available at the event) the damn thing is like putty! If you so much as brush your opponent it takes a nasty looking bend. Additionally it never took a 'nice' bend in the 1st place. It has reaffirmed my faith in LP V blades (my personal favourites).

[Psi Shadowdark]

i have a BF super blue FIE blade, the thing is as stiff as a epee
no joke

[mingfai]

thanks for all the information

In fact, I had a Allstar blue BF before . (until yesterday when it is broken! ) I agree it is very stiff at the time I bought it. However, it became less stiff and more "flickable" as time goes by. I used it for almost 5 years and at the time it is dead, the curve of blade and stiffness are very good.

regarding BF manufacturer, their website is at:
http://www.blaise-freres.fr/
(you may use translation services such as world.altavista.com to read the site in English)

I can't find the site of STM, but I got the name of some manufacturers as follows:
Leon Paul (England)
STM (Ukraine)
Vostok (Russia)

France-Lames (production is suspended, 07/31/02)

How about SM compare to Leon Paul's blade? Which one is more "flickable"? LP claims their blade are " manufactured in a unique way " and are lightness. It is quite interesting.

regards,
mingfai

[Gav]

Lp's V blades can be very flickable. In fact they grade their FIE blades on a scale of flickability. I find their blades are of generally excellent queslity. They take a 'nice' bend easily and are very light. I personally use a combo of LP ultra-light guard, LP V blade and Allstar grip (LP's grips are awful). The only down side with LP's are that they tend to lose their integrity as they get older. They become very flickable. Additionally I have an old blade that has almost lost the V in the blade. This means that the wire never stays in however the bade IS 6-7 years old and is now downgraded to 'Backup only'.

[mingfai]

hi Gav,

LP's blade sounds very attractive.

When u say "V Blade", which of the product you're refer to?

http://www.leonpaul.com/acatalog/Onl...ectric_22.html
http://www.leonpaul.com/acatalog/Onl...ectric_25.html

(which weapon do you play? I mainly play epee and is going to buy a new epee.)

regards,
mingfai

[mingfai]

i got it. it's "Electric épée blade Leon Paul maraging(Reference E10MLP)" (for epee). The other FIE one is also BF.

I am still interest in knowing the difference between SM and LP V.

regards,
mingfai

[mfp]

Originally posted by mingfai

I can't find the site of STM, but I got the name of some manufacturers as follows:
Leon Paul (England)
STM (Ukraine)
Vostok (Russia)
France-Lames (production is suspended, 07/31/02)

There's also:

WKC -- WEYERSBERG KIRSCHBAUM (Germany)
VNITI (Russia)

STM is also known as"STM Sportservice 1" and is indeed based in the Ukraine (despite many US vendors calling STM's products "Russian"). STM also produces foil and epee tips, fencing garments and some other items as well as foil/epee/sabre blades. The last time I contacted STM by email they said they didn't have a website, but that was some time ago.

Some people also say that Dinamo/Dynamo blades are Russian, but that seems to disagree with the Dynamo Lugansk webpage that claims ""Metal Works Plant "DYNAMO" is one of the oldest plants in Ukraine and the largest producer of fencing weapon in the world"

The Dynamo web pages don't include a lot of info, but they're worth a quick visit to marvel at the product prices (and amusing English).

http://www.dinamo-blade.lg.ua/swordw.html

[mfp]

By the way, mingfai, are you familiar with Esun, the Uhlmann dealer in Hong Kong? If so, do you have any comments about Esun, their stock and availability of Uhlman products and their prices?

I've checked out their website at

http://www.esun.com.hk/products.html

however they don't have much of a selection listed on the site. I've been wondering if Esun would be worth a visit the next time I pass through Hong Kong.

[Small world -- I also noticed someone from Scotland named Gav made an entry to Esun's guestbook]

[mingfai]

I have never been to the shop, but a friend of mine has been there recently. (some weeks ago) He asked about the availability of Ulhmann BF blade and it was out of stock. Let me ask my friend again and see whether he has any comment.

I guess eSun's "own" products are manufactured in China.

As far as I know, this is the only retail shop that is merely to sell fencing products. As a fencer in HK, I will support it as much as I can.

If you want any information about the shop, please let me know in email. I can give them a call to ask.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally posted by neevel
[B]Uhlmann currently does not make any blades of their own, but rather "badge-engineers" blades from other manufacturers.

According to Dan DeChaine, Uhlmann bought the Scaroni forges, so they might start making their own blades now.

[Psi Shadowdark]

i heard that too

[TFC]

Hello, everyone, i am a newbie
could Mfp tell me the email address of STM?

Thank You