Another Blade Thread (Epee)

[chinbeard]

How do the following blades compare to StM's non-FIE line? (Weight, balance, flickiness, durability, etc...)

FdN Advanced: http://shop.fencing.net/Bare_Electri.../fdn-34003.htm

Dinamo: http://www.triplette.com/catalog.php...Fcategory%3D60

TCA "Silver" or "Gold": http://www.triplette.com/catalog.php...Fcategory%3D72

SG "Super": http://www.blue-gauntlet.com/store/products/33

BG: http://www.blue-gauntlet.com/store/products/29

[K O'N]

How do the following blades compare to StM's non-FIE line? (Weight, balance, flickiness, durability, etc...)

FdN Advanced: http://shop.fencing.net/Bare_Electri.../fdn-34003.htm

Dinamo: http://www.triplette.com/catalog.php...Fcategory%3D60

TCA "Silver" or "Gold": http://www.triplette.com/catalog.php...Fcategory%3D72

Dinamo used to be well off the cost/quality curve. They were excellent blades for the money, and were a good bit better than StM. I no longer think that's true, I can't see any difference between the two now.

I don't know about the other two, but I'm interested in the answers too.

K O'N

[CvilleFencer]

My opinions...

FdN Advanced: Decent feel and fairly light. I have only had a couple in the club for a few weeks. The blade is forged in a very wavy manner and I am doubtful of the lifespan as it seems like all the peaks and valleys will concentrate stress on one area more than the others.

Dinamo: Effectively and StM blade.

TCA "Silver" or "Gold": Non-FIE BF blades. Nice feel and decent weight but pricey and not super durable in the hands of a newish or heavy fencer.

SG "Super": Crap, worst feel of any epee blade I have ever used.

BG: Same as above but rusts quicker.

I am a big fan of going with an LP-non FIE (light weight) or Vniti FIE (super durable and flicky) until you are at the level where you can use something like an LM FIE or BF FIE without killing it.

[larkascending]

My FDN Advanced took a 45 degree kink near the tip the first time I used it (over winter break). It hasn't broken yet, but I am convinced it will soon.

It's stiffer than my StMs, to the extent that my coach doesn't let me use it for lessons. It's also slightly, but noticeably, heavier.

[chinbeard]

My opinions...


TCA "Silver" or "Gold": Non-FIE BF blades. Nice feel and decent weight but pricey and not super durable in the hands of a newish or heavy fencer.

The "TCA Silver" and "TCA Gold" blades are distinct from the "Triplette" blades. According to their site, the "Triplette" blade is going out of production, and is being replaced by the cheaper "TCA Silver/Gold" blades (which cost $25-30 each). The "Triplette" blades were supposedly from BF forges, while the TCA blades are merely modeled after BF blades.

I'm pretty easy on my blades, so I'm content with my non-FIE StMs; I'd just like to know what else is out there.

[CvilleFencer]

The "TCA Silver" and "TCA Gold" blades are distinct from the "Triplette" blades. According to their site, the "Triplette" blade is going out of production, and is being replaced by the cheaper "TCA Silver/Gold" blades (which cost $25-30 each). The "Triplette" blades were supposedly from BF forges, while the TCA blades are merely modeled after BF blades.

I'm pretty easy on my blades, so I'm content with my non-FIE StMs; I'd just like to know what else is out there.

Figures that the only thing they had that was decent they would do away with. : Not a TCA fan myself.

[Nolano]

Triplette blades are/were BF non FIE. They feel quite nice, but they don't last long. IME.

[damianip]

Just started using the new TCA blades as a "pilot". I injured my shoulder a couple of months back and thought that changing the blade dynamics might aid in giving the injured area a rest.

I normally fence with non-FIE LP blades.

However, I used to use the Triplette non-FIE gold blades which I liked, but they tended to wrinkle in the foible rather quickly.

The TCA gold blades are nice, light and well balanced. They flick nicely and aren't quite as lively as the LP blades. They do seem to want to wrinkle though. Must be a function of the forging geometry.

Anyway, they are nice for the price; let's see how they hold up.

Paolo

[chinbeard]

Just started using the new TCA blades as a "pilot". I injured my shoulder a couple of months back and thought that changing the blade dynamics might aid in giving the injured area a rest.

I normally fence with non-FIE LP blades.

However, I used to use the Triplette non-FIE gold blades which I liked, but they tended to wrinkle in the foible rather quickly.

The TCA gold blades are nice, light and well balanced. They flick nicely and aren't quite as lively as the LP blades. They do seem to want to wrinkle though. Must be a function of the forging geometry.

Anyway, they are nice for the price; let's see how they hold up.

Paolo

Do the new (gold) ones really feel like BF blades? Also, have you tried the silver ones?

[damianip]

I've only tried the gold as Triplette appears to imply that they are different geometrically.

They do feel like my old Triplette gold BF blades, as far as memory serves. I'm pleasantly surprised. The price is reasonable, and the handling is nice. They big question mark remains the "wrinkling". I'll have more to say in a month or so.

I have not tried the silver blades based on my feeling that they are a different design.

Paolo

[JacoKierkegaard]

Anyone know if Triplette's changed the way their blades are stamped? I just got a Dinamo in from them today, first Dinamo I've owned and the first time I've bought a blade from Triplette. Physically the blade appears to be a Dinamo based on what I remember from the ones I've borrowed, but it doesn't have the logo like every other Dinamo I've seen, just TCA stamped on the underside.

[chinbeard]

I've ordered a TCA silver (the $25 blade) and a TCA gold ($31). I'll write a review of both blades soon.

[TodG]

I am a big fan of going with an LP-non FIE (light weight) or Vniti FIE (super durable and flicky) until you are at the level where you can use something like an LM FIE or BF FIE without killing it.

I have to say I have been very impressed with the LP non-FIE. It looks a bit weird, but mine have held up exceptionally well, particularly since I loan them out to beginners.

[chinbeard]

I am a big fan of going with an LP-non FIE (light weight) or Vniti FIE (super durable and flicky) until you are at the level where you can use something like an LM FIE or BF FIE without killing it.

I'm actually pretty easy on my blades. I'm perfectly happy with StM's, but I would like to know what else is out there (without breaking the bank just to buy a single blade). If I can get a pretty good idea of what a BF feels like by fencing with a TCA gold (and like it), then I MIGHT save up for one. I can't buy a $100 blade just to see what it feels like.

[chinbeard]

My FDN Advanced took a 45 degree kink near the tip the first time I used it (over winter break). It hasn't broken yet, but I am convinced it will soon.

It's stiffer than my StMs, to the extent that my coach doesn't let me use it for lessons. It's also slightly, but noticeably, heavier.

Let me know when it breaks. (Seriously.)

[Sins of the Fleche]

I'm actually pretty easy on my blades. I'm perfectly happy with StM's, but I would like to know what else is out there (without breaking the bank just to buy a single blade). If I can get a pretty good idea of what a BF feels like by fencing with a TCA gold (and like it), then I MIGHT save up for one. I can't buy a $100 blade just to see what it feels like.

It sounds like you're interested in light weight and excellent balance, but if its durability you seek, then Vniti is your blade. They're as heavy as a brick sometimes, but a Vniti epee is the fencing equivalent of the Energizer bunny. Then again, I am a bit biased as I've fenced a Vniti FIE for about 18 months now.

[larkascending]

Let me know when it breaks. (Seriously.)

It died yesterday. So, I got about three months out of it, but did not compete with it unless it was my last weapon, and practiced with it especially with fencers whom I know to keep poor distance.

[chinbeard]

It sounds like you're interested in light weight and excellent balance, but if its durability you seek, then Vniti is your blade. They're as heavy as a brick sometimes, but a Vniti epee is the fencing equivalent of the Energizer bunny. Then again, I am a bit biased as I've fenced a Vniti FIE for about 18 months now.

Actually, I don't care about weight. I've handled a clubmate's Vniti, and the weight increase over my non-FIE StM blades was negligible.

I'm mostly just wondering about flex points and "quickness" (which I believe might be the same thing as stiffness--there are times that I've changed my mind in mid-attack, but my tip wasn't as quick as my hands).

It died yesterday. So, I got about three months out of it, but did not compete with it unless it was my last weapon, and practiced with it especially with fencers whom I know to keep poor distance.

May it rest in peace. Overall, would you say that it saw heavy use? Also, do you go through blades quicker than other people? How long do you get out of an StM?

[chinbeard]

I received the new TCA silver and gold blades. I haven't used them yet, but a side-by side comparison shows that they are less "folded" than my non-FIE StM blades. I don't know if this is a good thing, a bad thing, or just a difference in design.

(A clubmate told me a story about his non-FIE LP blade: the angle at the foible became wider and broke shortly thereafter.)