New S2000 Chinese Blades Claim.

[Novatian]

Hi, there seems to be a supplier in China who claims to manufacture S2000 blades. A Chinese supplier and a Taiwanese supplier claim to have S2000 blades but they are not yet listed in the FIE site it seems.

http://www.wsfencing.com/products.asp?id=199

http://picasaweb.google.com/swimscho...71539541076130

http://www.fie.ch/download/equipment...2010.04.25.pdf

I would like to buy from Danyang Weishang, can I trust the claim? It is new. But their masks... have been FIE standards apparently for months or years.

[prototoast]

There is no FIE standard for saber blades like there are for foil and epee. You won't ever see them on the FIE list.

[Novatian]

Thanks for this information. So the issue of blades breaking into a flat edge is not a sabre issue, neccessity? I have been advised blades for sabres break often. I also want to keep safe practice and not skimp on my opponent's safety at all.

So,what is the FIE safety requirment, and could the Chinese blades meet requirements?

[prototoast]

Thanks for this information. So the issue of blades breaking into a flat edge is not a sabre issue, neccessity? I have been advised blades for sabres break often. I also want to keep safe practice and not skimp on my opponent's safety at all.

So,what is the FIE safety requirment, and could the Chinese blades meet requirements?

The only FIE requirement is for stiffness (s2000). I would be reasonably confident that these blades meet that standard. As for breaking, in my experience, Chinese blades break significantly more often than Eastern European blades, so if that's your concern, I would advise not buying these.

[SJCFU#2]

So the issue of blades breaking into a flat edge is not a sabre issue, neccessity? I have been advised blades for sabres break often.

The myth that FIE blades break into a flat edge is just that - a myth (all be it one with very long legs). Maraging blades are just as likely to end up with a sharp edge when they break as carbon steel however maraging steel is far more resistant to crack propagation so maraging blades break less frequently, thereby reducing the risk of suddenly finding yourself on the receiving end of a sharply broken point.

One other thing to bear in mind - while the FIE doesn't test saber blades in the same manner as it does foil and epee blades they did recently adopt a change to m.23.2 which require the edges of saber blades have at least a 0.5 mm chamfer, similar to foil blades. Since this is a new requirement it remains to be seen how this will play out with regards to existing blade stocks (Could we soon be seeing "S2010" blades?)

[noodle]

The myth that FIE blades break into a flat edge is just that - a myth (all be it one with very long legs). Maraging blades are just as likely to end up with a sharp edge when they break as carbon steel however maraging steel is far more resistant to crack propagation so maraging blades break less frequently, thereby reducing the risk of suddenly finding yourself on the receiving end of a sharply broken point.

One other thing to bear in mind - while the FIE doesn't test saber blades in the same manner as it does foil and epee blades they did recently adopt a change to m.23.2 which require the edges of saber blades have at least a 0.5 mm chamfer, similar to foil blades. Since this is a new requirement it remains to be seen how this will play out with regards to existing blade stocks (Could we soon be seeing "S2010" blades?)

there are also FIE blades that aren't made of maraging steel.

[Novatian]

Did read a myth when they said maraging blade sabres are no better that steel ones?

I have seen blades snapped and in the bin at a club, they were flat breaks.

[noodle]

Did read a myth when they said maraging blade sabres are no better that steel ones?

I have seen blades snapped and in the bin at a club, they were flat breaks.

maraging IS steel. just a slightly different alloy.

how a blade breaks depends on how it failed, and a little on the alloy, but it is definitely NOT the case that all maraging blades break flat.

sabers usually break where the tang is welded to the blade, which will break flat because its a weld, not an actual fracture in the metal. next most common place is out near the tip, where the metal is so thin that it gets sheared off flat, regardless of the blade composition (but because its thin with now sharp edges, its still very dangerous)


sabers take more abuse than other blades. they will break, regular or maraging. maraging might last a little longer. when the average lifespan of the blade is much shorter in saber, the question is, will making it last 20% longer be worth the price? lots of people say no, since most maraging blades cost much more than 20% more.

[Novatian]

I plan to buy a Chinese sabre for $55 AUD from the Medieval Fight Club, just north of Sydney. Just silver metal.

[Novatian]

I got my sabre in the mail from the Medieval Fight Club, it does not have an S2000 stamp only a "j" and is rough workmanship to look at, nevertheless ok, and ok for practice at home, must see about the club.