Vniti Epee with Leon Paul lightweight French grip?

[iamadoorknob]

I have a Vniti FIE Epee and I don't really like it; it's too flicky for my taste and I feel like I don't have as much control with it right after a parry. I ordered a Leon Paul lightweight French Grip (the big ones that you can fit to a tang cut for pistol grip) to put on there. I figure since I'll be pommeling with the french grip, I won't have to rely on parries so much anyway.

My only concern is that since the Vniti is a pretty heavy blade in general, the fact that the grip is so light will make the blade really unbalanced and throw me off. I already have a lightweight guard and socket on there. I was thinking I should put something heavy inside the grip right around the back (where the pommel would go) to even the weight out.

So what would fit inside there to add weight and how would I keep it in?

[Purple Fencer]

If you think you won't have to parry much just because you're posting you;ve got another think coming...even in epee, parrying has a place.

[AdamH]

Okie, I'll bite for conversation.

I have a Vniti FIE Epee and I don't really like it; it's too flicky for my taste and I feel like I don't have as much control with it right after a parry.
...
I figure since I'll be pommeling with the french grip, I won't have to rely on parries so much anyway.

This reads as if you want to use a flicky blade to play a counter-attacking game. Is this something you are looking to do?

My only concern is that since the Vniti is a pretty heavy blade in general ...

The heavier the blade, the stronger you have to be to get it where you want it to go and the quicker you will tire and lose technical capacity. If you're looking to play a counter-attacking/absence of blade/attack-in-prep/footwork game, do you want the epee to be slower by adding more weight?

---------------

Are you feeling out the carbon fibre grip with a complete switch to the pomelling game a possibility?

[CvilleFencer]

I am not sure where the whole "Vniti's are so heavy" thing comes from. On average a Vniti weighs in a 189 grams. A BF white is 183 and a Chevalier is 200. The do balance a little different, which may be the problem.

As to the specific question, if you dislike the blade, sell it to a clubmate or on ebay or something and get a blade you like. Trying to add weight to an LP carbon fiber grip is going to be a chore, as there is nothing really back there past the nut.

Further, if you are concerned about balancing the Vniti blade, if it is not already cut for a pistol grip you would be much better served getting a Coach Reith grip and a heavy pommel like the Schremasport 2 peice to balance the weapon out.

[chinbeard]

I am not sure where the whole "Vniti's are so heavy" thing comes from.

Truth. Man up.

[Sins of the Fleche]

As a Vniti epee user, I gotta say I'm surprised to hear you're having trouble getting it back in line. My Vniti is stiff, and I've never had an issue with point drifting out of line after a parry.

As for playing a pommeling w/ flicky stop-hit strategy, let me know how that goes for you, because in my experience Vnitis aren't usually that flicky, but that's just my own personal history with the weapons.

[antonsilver]

I am not sure where the whole "Vniti's are so heavy" thing comes from. On average a Vniti weighs in a 189 grams.

Just put my newly purchased, wired Viniti blade (cut for French grip) on the scale... result 214 g

[Thierry]

If you think you won't have to parry much just because you're posting you;ve got another think coming...even in epee, parrying has a place.

Users of the French grip who pommell usually don't rely that much on parries, they focus more on disengages and stop
hits. :/

My advice to you would be to sell your Vniti blade and buy a Leon Paul light weight blade cut for pistol grip, or do weights to build up your strength, setting your tang may help too. Most people here believe that the Vniti is light because they use a pistol grip, which is known to give much more strength as compared to someone pommelling on the back of a French grip. Heck when I use an STM blade with a titanium guard with a pistol grip it still feels lighter than a Vniti with a light weight French grip.