So I finally order and fenced with a production SR-71 blade

[DangerMouse]

I am suprised you like them. I picked up a friend's and was alarmed how whippy it was. Realize though, I prefer stiff BFs (concur that the StMs are pretty good alternatives) because of the animals I fence with. Was hoping the SR-71s would be a good alternative but I am not sure due to the flex.

I was concerned with the flexibility at first too, but I figured I would give it a try. The timing was pretty good because I was just getting back to fencing after about 6 months away from an injury. This way I was avoiding the gut reaction that different is bad. I fenced with it exclusively in practice for a couple weeks and really liked it, although the flexibility took a little getting used to. Earlier this week I alternated bouts with my SR-71 and a BF weapon. The BF is a bit on the heavy side compared to some other examples, but not too bad, and is really stiff (what I usually look for). What I found is that the light weight of the LP allows my hand to be more stable, which makes up for the difference in blade flex. Right now I am torn as to which I like better, which is pretty high praise for the LP. My experience with LP in the past is that their blades are very consistent, so I'm leaning toward switching to LP just for that reason. The durability would be an added bonus.

[Alex_Paul]

I was concerned with the flexibility at first too, but I figured I would give it a try. The timing was pretty good because I was just getting back to fencing after about 6 months away from an injury. This way I was avoiding the gut reaction that different is bad. I fenced with it exclusively in practice for a couple weeks and really liked it, although the flexibility took a little getting used to. Earlier this week I alternated bouts with my SR-71 and a BF weapon. The BF is a bit on the heavy side compared to some other examples, but not too bad, and is really stiff (what I usually look for). What I found is that the light weight of the LP allows my hand to be more stable, which makes up for the difference in blade flex. Right now I am torn as to which I like better, which is pretty high praise for the LP. My experience with LP in the past is that their blades are very consistent, so I'm leaning toward switching to LP just for that reason. The durability would be an added bonus.

All I can say is

And I will also add that if your BF is stiffer then the SR-71 then it is more than likley illegally stiff as the SR-71's should be prety much bang on the limit...

[DangerMouse]

All I can say is

And I will also add that if your BF is stiffer then the SR-71 then it is more than likley illegally stiff as the SR-71's should be prety much bang on the limit...

You keep saying this, but I really don't care if my blades are illegally stiff because they never test them in the U.S.

[K O'N]

You keep saying this, but I really don't care if my blades are illegally stiff because they never test them in the U.S.

Which is a little bit of a puzzle, to the extent that one wonders if it's an intentionally blind eye. It's very easy to test. Is it tested at FIE events?

[Barry Paul]

You keep saying this, but I really don't care if my blades are illegally stiff because they never test them in the U.S.

So you would like us to manufacture a poker so you can improve you chance of hitting your opponent and ignore the fact that you the blade would be illegal and might cause serious harm to your opponent. Not sure if we at Leon Paul would find this acceptable??? I wonder what the members of fencing net think?

[DangerMouse]

So you would like us to manufacture a poker so you can improve you chance of hitting your opponent and ignore the fact that you the blade would be illegal and might cause serious harm to your opponent. Not sure if we at Leon Paul would find this acceptable??? I wonder what the members of fencing net think?

This wasn't meant to be a gripe or to suggest that you make illegally stiff blades, just that since other companies DO make illegally stiff blades (probably because their blades are not as consistent as yours), don't get upset that some people might prefer blades that stiff.

[erooMynohtnA]

So you would like us to manufacture a poker so you can improve you chance of hitting your opponent and ignore the fact that you the blade would be illegal and might cause serious harm to your opponent. Not sure if we at Leon Paul would find this acceptable??? I wonder what the members of fencing net think?

Yes, I would like that.

[swordwench]

Wait wait wait... what's all this about a super-light titanium barrel? Alex and Barry, when is this going to be released? If soonish, I'm inclined to wait for it. But if it's like the ongoing rumors of the new, awesome MacBook Pro that will be coming any day (and I'm suffering on a failing piece of crap and praying for it to boot every day while I wait for release) maybe waiting is NOT the answer. Can you tell us anything about this? And is it really all that and a bag of chips, as magicmoose says?

[magic_moose]

I was hoping they would jump in on that one too. The friend with the samples was going to ping Alex promptly after all my raving, but I haven't seen him since and don't know what he got told. And yes, it makes them feel like two completely different blades. OTOH, to be fair I am not really clear what the heavy sluggish tip was (production, bombproof, depleted uranium) other than I hated it. :-)

[Purple Fencer]

You keep saying this, but I really don't care if my blades are illegally stiff because they never test them in the U.S.

NOW the armory crew will be on the lookout for you at Nats!

[jkormann]

So you would like us to manufacture a poker so you can improve you chance of hitting your opponent and ignore the fact that you the blade would be illegal and might cause serious harm to your opponent. Not sure if we at Leon Paul would find this acceptable??? I wonder what the members of fencing net think?

Which rule? I'm curious to look it up..

[prototoast]

NOW the armory crew will be on the lookout for you at Nats!

If armorers start failing stock BF blades, there are going to be a lot of happy vendors that weekend.

[Alex_Paul]

The first rule of point club is

"You do not talk about point club"

The second rule of point club is

"You DO NOT talk about point club"



This was not meant to go public yet.

pending patent 1119944.5

On test with fencers including Bas Verwijlen.

Feedback:

"I am so happy about the new ******** point. It is still in great shape! I use it almost every day and make a lot of flicks with it! If possible I would like all my blades with this point."

"Overall, yes I have found it to be a faster point"

We are working on both foil and epee and are also looking at new coating and finishing processes.

Release date unknown.

[Alex_Paul]

Which rule? I'm curious to look it up..

rule is M16

[Alex_Paul]

On the topic of stiff blades we are not prepeared to make blades that are illegally stiff even if people would prefer them.

At the salle if I come up against someone using a very stiff blade I refuse to fence them because it bloody hurts and I see no reason I should suffer for their perceived or real performance improvement.

[jkormann]

On the topic of stiff blades we are not prepeared to make blades that are illegally stiff even if people would prefer them.

At the salle if I come up against someone using a very stiff blade I refuse to fence them because it bloody hurts and I see no reason I should suffer for their perceived or real performance improvement.

To me, that's more of a reason to have a softer blade, and know how to hit so the blade bends and softens the impact.

Cruising through M.16.5 which says a 200g weight should drop the point (with weight 3cm back) between 4.5cm and 7cm relative to the grip (non-weighted). You could have a blade which is re-bar stiff on the bottom 3/4, whippy on the top 1/4 and still meet the definition. But it would hurt like the dickens. Is that the issue?

[Alex_Paul]

But it would hurt like the dickens. Is that the issue?

I don't think it would hurt, what hurts most (IME) is if they are consistently stiff along their length and overly stiff (deflected less than 4.5cm).

[jkormann]

I don't think it would hurt, what hurts most (IME) is if they are consistently stiff along their length and overly stiff (deflected less than 4.5cm).

Yes, that could leave a mark.

I've been hit with AF epees that act like I described. They do hurt.