which to buy: dry or electric blade?

[SJCFU#2]

Also to the question of the tips -- can you just throw a plastic tip on top of the electric tip if we get an electric weapon?

No. The rubber tips for dry weapons are intended to fit over a small metal plate at the end of a dry blade while electric blades are threaded for mounting an electric tip. However you can buy a dummy tip (essentially a solid metal cylinder that's roughly the same size and weight as an electric tip - click here) and screw it on to the end of an electric blade.

Can someone recommend a good source for mail-order fencing foil for my son?

You're looking at one right now - just go to the top of the page and click on "Fencing Equipment". Other possibilities include Purple Fencer's HOM Fencing Supply (although he's on the far side of the country from you), Absolute Fencing Gear and Blue Gauntlet (both of which are located in New Jersey), to name a few. If you look up near the top of the page you'll also see a section titled "Equipment Reviews". There's an entire subsection there devoted to equipment vendors.

If I buy a complete weapon, what else should I buy? The hex nut for the grip and a couple of extra tips? Anything else?

Dry weapons usually don't require too many spare parts so as long as you order a complete weapon it will probably be fine. However if you do decide to go with an electric weapon then you'll probably want to get some spare tip screws and springs (make sure that you get ones which match your tip - German and French foil tip parts are not interchangeable) and maybe a roll of tip tape (it will need to be replaced from time to time).

[robynkoz]

The tips and wires on electric blades are likely to break more frequently than a good quality blade . You probably don't want to pay for the tips and wires until you will use them, else they will be broken by the time you do.

Ok, this makes sense. This leans me toward buying a weapon whose blade has the channel for the wire, but not wiring it yet, and using a "dummy" tip until we need the electric one.

Based on the need to have two complete electric weapons to compete, it seems like what really makes sense is to find a cheaper blade that my son also likes. Which I think means finding somewhere I can put a variety of weapons in his so he can see what he likes the feel of. I mean an StM blade looks like a good compromise choice "on paper" but I don't want to buy it without him ever having held one.

The other possibility is to get him the good All-Star or Uhlman equivalent BF blade now, and get a less expensive foil for his 2nd "backup" weapon. Does anyone do that -- keep a cheaper weapon for their backup? I know the obvious disadvantages would be ending up having to compete with a weapon you don't favor and probably haven't practiced with as much. But the upside would be the ability to get him the weapon he really wants for his "primary" weapon and not having to compromise on that one.

We're about an hour from Albany, and 3 hours from Boston but travel into the Boston area fairly regularly. Is there a good fencing shop in either of those locations, or anywhere else reasonably nearby? I'm thinking more and more that doing this in person is going to be the way to go.

Thanks again for everyone's patience and expertise!

[Wetmelon]

I'm thinking more and more that doing this in person is going to be the way to go.

By far the best thing possible. A shop owner can put together custom weapons, tailoring the weapon to suit the needs of the fencer. Being able to actually hold the weapon prior to buying is a huge advantage, and you can usually get good deals, too

Not sure about places around Boston, but afaik it's a decent fencing community, so there may be something.

[Purple Fencer]

Here's the vendor list from teh USFA http://usfencing.org/pages/3782

Note that is doesn't include all the vendors (I'm not on it, for example...I think you have to pay and I don't have the funds). The only vendor in MA is Zivkovic in Wellesley Hills, which is within 20 miles of Boston.

[RebelFencer]

The other possibility is to get him the good All-Star or Uhlman equivalent BF blade now, and get a less expensive foil for his 2nd "backup" weapon.

There's nothing wrong with having a cheaper weapon as a backup, but at this stage in his fencing there is no reason for them to need a BF blade. In all honesty he wouldn't really notice a big difference between a BF white/blue and a Vniti. If you are going to go FIE, Vniti would be a great choice for a blade. When I started out I was a foilist and had a Vniti blade that lasted for about 2 years of fencing 3-4 days a week with lessons. Of course your mileage will probably vary on it, but they are extremely durable and overall decent blades.

[SJCFU#2]

We're about an hour from Albany, and 3 hours from Boston but travel into the Boston area fairly regularly. Is there a good fencing shop in either of those locations, or anywhere else reasonably nearby? I'm thinking more and more that doing this in person is going to be the way to go.

In addition to Zivkovic, you might also try visiting a major event somewhere nearby. Many will have a vendor present (although it generally takes something like a NAC to be able to visit a number of vendors in one place).

[brtech]

I think a BF is a waste of money at this point.

STM is probably your best choice, although the Vnity usually will last longer.

The STM feel is a lot like the BF, although any good foilist can tell the difference instantly. The Vnity is stiffer. The Paul Etoile is also a good choice for a beginner.

If you want to spend money, get him a good mask (FIE). It's the only thing that really matters. It's a safety issue. The next most important thing is the uniform (whites). FIE again. I'd rather see him in the cheapest FIE mask and whites than Vnity blade. The club, at best, has 350 Newton mask/whites. While most of us on this board are pretty uniformly in agreement on the mask, I think the current suggest we should be at least equally concerned about the whites. We have very few mask injuries these days. There was a fatal incident a long time ago, which is how the FIE standards came into being. However, the most serious injuries today are body punctures (from broken blades).

Fencing overall is a very safe sport; much safer than, say, cheerleading, soccer or anything ending in "ball" outside of "ping pong". However, we are talking about kids beating metal rods against each other.