Difference between Gold, Blue, blades?

[Windsor]

I always see like Blue, or Gold, or something of that nature whenever it comes to BF blades, ie Uhlmann, Allstar, and Triplette, but what does it mean, other than color...

Like at Triplette they have their gold BF blades, then Superblue BF blades, and they're both more expensive than their regular blades, whats it all mean? And is there any benefit in buying the more expensive ones?

[Sabress]

Hmmm, that's interesting because I thought they were cheaper if not the same price as normal blades. I love them though! Wish I had a blue on, they look so cool! I think mayhaps it could be for aesthetic reasons....

[gofence]

As I understand it (which may be wrong)
The color of a blade is caused by one of two reasons:
1. Change in blade colour due to the tempering process.
Gold and blue blades are tempered in a different way which produces a longer lasting blade. The Blue blade being longer lasting than the gold blade which is longer lasting than an ordinary (white) blade. By longer lasting I mean able to withstand more "normal" bends - although an extreme bend may cause the blue blade to break. So you pay more and get longer life in return.

2. The manufacturer merely colours the blade. These blades are just normal blades that have been coloured for asthetic reasons. You pay more and you get a pretty blade but there is no performance enhancement.

So if you buy a coloured blade make sure you know which type of colouring you are getting because many vendors do not make it clear which type of coloured blades they are selling.

For example, I have been led to believe that the BF gold/blue blades are the result of an enhanced tempering process - but not all of the AllStar gold/blue blades are - for example their S&M blades are probably just coloured.

gofence

[neevel]

While there are differences in the temper of the BF blades of various colors, the coloration itself is not a result of the heat-treat but simply a finish that allows the different models of blade to be readily told apart.

-Dave

[kini mini]

I have a BF Blue blade, it really does look cool .

To my knowledge, the blue BF is supposed to be long lasting and quite flexible . I've only had mine for 6 months so I don't know about long lasting, but it is flexible.

The blue is simply painted onto the blade by the manufactururer IMO, you can see the marks. Anyway, making such a striking blue alloy that retained all the properties required of a blade would be a great metallurgical achievement, if a somewheat pointless one .

OT - anyone else seen so-called purple gold? Blink and you'll miss the purple.

[gofence]

Whilst I may have misunderstood how the enhanced tempered blades are actually "coloured", I still think there is a valid point to be made that not all coloured blades are equal - because the blue/gold colouring of some blades do indicate that a different tempering process has taken place, whilst the colouring of some blades do not. These blades are coloured merely for asthetic and marketing reasons and the properties of the blades are no different from a normal uncoloured blade.

gofence

[Artisan]

Originally posted by gofence
Whilst I may have misunderstood how the enhanced tempered blades are actually "coloured", I still think there is a valid point to be made that not all coloured blades are equal - because the blue/gold colouring of some blades do indicate that a different tempering process has taken place, whilst the colouring of some blades do not. These blades are coloured merely for asthetic and marketing reasons and the properties of the blades are no different from a normal uncoloured blade.

gofence

pasteed from another thread...

Re: White Blades?

quote:
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Originally posted by VAFfencer
Could someone please educate me on this subject?

I am having an email correspondance with Mr. Triplette. In it he referred to white blades. What is this? Is this another coating like blue? If so, what are the advantages and how would one keep the finish on?


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I had a similar discussion with someone @ Triplette. I dunno if it was Mr. T or not. What I learned was that the BF blades they sell, White, Gold & Blue are all identical when they leave the forge. When they are tempered is when they aquire their different characteristics. He led me to belive that the offering of three types was akin to have multiple types of catfood on the grocer's shelf - by offering more variety, they sell more product by displacing competators... That said, he assured me that all three are identical in stiffness and balance. The difference comes to bear when the blades are over-bent. The Blue are batch tested to a slightly higher number of bend cycles before failure than the gold. This does not mean they will last longer in general, but that they can sustain a higher number of moderate flexes before failing. The white ones can sustain fewer, but actually hold up better in the case of a few extreme bends - such as when you collide with someone, or step into a counterattack. Gold are somewhere in between the two in terms of performance.

He recommended either the white or the gold over the blue for all but the highest level fencers, since the average fencer has a better chance of overbending a blade in regular and practice use than an elite fencer does in competition. That said, the Blue still outsells the others since thats what people see being used by top competators.

As far as the coating, it is but a thin veneer, and can be abraded off if one scrubs or sands the blade too vigorously. White is an uncolored coating.

Art.

[Morra[PrFC]]

I feel kinda ignorant for asking, but what does BF stand for? I see it a lot in posts...

[oiuyt]

BF == Blaise Freres, the french forge that produces many blades, some of which are then sold under other companies badges (Uhlmann and Triplette to name two).

-B :)

[Morra[PrFC]]

Thank you, Brad!!

[a517dogg]

What is the stiffest non vniti blade out there?

[Windsor]

I don't know about epee, but evidently the Uhlmann Ultra foil blades are quite the stiff pieces of steel.

[kini mini]

I don't know if they're the stiffest, but the SM blades must ne contenders, my old school had one and it never bent