Those flanges that screw on to the tip...

[Purple Fencer]

I've never had any more trouble getting a standard rubber tip over a barrel than I have had getting it over the flat flange of a dry blade. Drop the tips in boiling water for a few seconds and they slide right on.

I have to consider the ability to make replacements or repairs in the field...experience has told the instructors that simply replacing a standard rubber tip works best for them.

[Purple Fencer]

Pics are a touch fuzzy, but these are the flanges I have for epee...the foil ones are a little longer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...op/flanges.jpg

[forethought]

I've seen one or two of those on blades that were threaded at the end, but had no wire groove (have no idea who made them, or who sold them), but I don't know where you'd go about finding any. My suggestion would be to use dummy points, and grind them down with a Dremel to the desired size and shape.

It's not perfect, and would certainly be some work, but it is an option.

[Purple Fencer]

I've also given thought to having some fabricated...the ones I got from StM DID tend to cut through the rubber a little too fast.