First time sabering

[Strydus]

I'd like to give sabering a try for the first time, but was wondering if I should get a dry or electric weapon. I know electric épées don't hold up as well (as long) as practice models do, but does this apply to sabers as well?
If I can just get one weapon for now, that would reduce my costs considerably obviously, but if decide to go into more depth, will an electric have held out as long or will I need to get a new blade/complete?

[Inquartata]

The only difference between dry and electric sabres is that electrics have a socket and an insulated pommel. They use the same identical blades, so there is no durability/strength issue there. One of the advantages to sabre, you know---even electric, there are no wires, springs, tips or screws to fiddle with. I'm still using guards and grips and sockets that are over a decade old. the blades break occasionally, but you can get 'em for $15 and replace install 'em in about 3 minutes flat.

The socket, insulated pommel and ( if you must ) pad shouldn't set you back more than $10 extra. Go ahead and get an electric.

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by Strydus
I know electric épées don't hold up as well (as long) as practice models do

Do you just mean that they don't hold up as long because a wire pops or the tip has problems, or do you mean that electric blades actually snap more than dry?? if you are just saying the first, k. if you are saying the second, I would wonder why? I have not experienced that.

-m

[damianip]

Originally posted by Strydus
I know electric épées don't hold up as well (as long) as practice models do, but does this apply to sabers as well?

This really isn't true. If you use a dry épée in competition as much as an electric, all things being equal, they'll have approximately the same life span.

The only difference is the tip, and, in my experience, épées don't usually fail at the tip threads.

The key is that if you drill with a dry weapon, it will never see the abuse that the electric weapon will see in competition.

If you're referring to the wire and tip as failure points, as Mike mentioned, then I agree that weapon won't hold up as well (but the blade will).

Paolo

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by damianip
If you're referring to the wire and tip as failure points, as Mike mentioned, then I agree that weapon won't hold up as well (but the blade will).

Then again, that is a pretty meaningless statement.... after all, if the wiring breaks, what are you left with??

A dry epee with a dummy tip.

so, if you buy electric, you will, when it breaks, end up with a dry.

-m

[DJ Apostrophe]

and if you're like columbia (See the "you've GOT to be kidding me" thread), once its gone dry its impossible to get working in a decent fashion again...
then again... if you are like the rest of us (you know, sensible human beings) then its really not that difficult to fix. before i was fencing i was armoring... i was the one warm body at umass fencing meets who wasnt fencing or coaching... so people started throwing broken weapons at me. I have the tinkering "gotta know how this works" type of mind so I would just take things apart, figure it out and put it back together. If you're in an ivy leauge school and can't figure out how to fix weapons... you need to be smacked.
-w

[Strydus]

For those who where wondering, I was referring to the tip (should've specified). Anyhow, the general opinion is "go electric", so I guess that's what I'll go for.
Thanks for the tips.

[damianip]

Originally posted by epeemike81
Then again, that is a pretty meaningless statement....

Then again, it isn't, but yours is rather superficial.

Originally posted by epeemike81

after all, if the wiring breaks, what are you left with??

A dry epee with a dummy tip.

so, if you buy electric, you will, when it breaks, end up with a dry.

-m

A blade with a broken wire can be fixed in about five minutes. A broken blade (dry or electric) is a tomato stake and the rest of the weapon immediately becomes spare parts.

Additionally, an electric weapon with a broken wire is fine for drilling and dry fencing (as you said). However, with a working tip, but a broken wire, I can still get a better sense of whether the touch is good than I can with a dummy tip.

Paolo

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by damianip
Then again, it isn't, but yours is rather superficial.



A blade with a broken wire can be fixed in about five minutes. A broken blade (dry or electric) is a tomato stake and the rest of the weapon immediately becomes spare parts.

Additionally, an electric weapon with a broken wire is fine for drilling and dry fencing (as you said). However, with a working tip, but a broken wire, I can still get a better sense of whether the touch is good than I can with a dummy tip.

Paolo

umm..... maybe you should re-read my post. That was EXACTLY my point. it is meaningless to point out that "electric weapons break more" simply due to wiring issues, because they can be easily fixed and more importantly, until you fix it, it is STILL just as useful as a dry weapon!

-m

[damianip]

Originally posted by epeemike81
umm..... maybe you should re-read my post. That was EXACTLY my point. it is meaningless to point out that "electric weapons break more" simply due to wiring issues, because they can be easily fixed and more importantly, until you fix it, it is STILL just as useful as a dry weapon!

-m

OK,

My bad.

I guess I missed the point. Mike, you're either too subtle or I'm just too dull today.

I'm so touchy, I can't even be agreed with.

Paolo

[oiuyt]

Taking the thread further off course to discuss epees even more... why would you EVER want a dry epee (or foil for that matter) blade? They handle COMPLETELY differently than electrically prepared blades. Get an electric blade, don't wire it, screw on an electric tip, use that as a practice weapon.

In the case of sabre, as mentioned above it makes no difference. Using an electric sabre dry isn't going to hurt it any more than using it electrically or using a dry sabre dry (with the one minor exception that you might end up with a bad, too-close, action mauling the socket which wouldn't happen if your sabre didn't have one to start with....).

-B :)