Need Info on FIE Maraging Blades

[lfortier]

Hi! Since I'm about to buy a new epee from Blue Gauntlet, I was wondering- What's the difference between the "BF" FIE Maraging Super Epee Complete (selling for $139) and the Vinity FIE Maraging Epee Complete (selling for $115)? What is Maraging and Vinity, and whats best for compeition? I'm on a budget, and need to get something high quality for my money's worth. Any info would be much appreciated.

[wflaschka]

Sometimes, price variance is due to the parts used in the weapon... for example, an Allstar plug costs more than a generic plug.

Looking at blue-gauntlet.com's site, it appears that all the parts are generic "BG" blue gauntlet parts. So the price difference is in the blades themselves. They used the same pictures for both kinds of weapons, which is not helpful.

"BF" and "Vinity" could be different blades from different suppliers or foundries, or they could be different blades from the same foundry (one is an average blade, on is their "pro blue-label" version). The blue-gauntlet people will tell you, if you call them -- they may even be able to tell you the differences (weight, flexibility, fluting).

Going by market value alone, the "BF" is the better blade. If the $19 price difference were a factor for me, I would go with the cheaper -- it's still an FIE blade. Maybe someone else knows more about the blades themselves.

[mfp]

"Vinity" is Blue Gauntlet's weird spelling for "Vniti", which is the name of a Russian forge. Vniti epee blades are nice, however they tend to be thicker, heavier blades than those from other forges. OK ... some consider them the epee equivalent of a lead pipe. Such blades might be a bit overkill for competing in Y14 women's epee (which the original poster mentioned in another thread).

Questions about equipment are better suited to the "Armory - Q&A" subtopic. There used to be several threads under "Armory" that discussed blades from various forges, etc. Hopefully those threads can be recovered from the bit bucket.

[Sildar]

Vniti blades are quite heavy, but they do last longer than any other blade I've owned. It is also fun to watch some silly person with a lighter blade try to move the Vniti with an ordinary beat; usually their blade bounces off and mine is unmoved...

[neevel]

Maraging steel is a type of high-nickel content, low carbon steel
that is used to make most (but not all) FIE homolgated blades.
It is stronger and much more resistant to fatigue/microfractures than more ordinary carbon steels used for non-FIE blades, resulting in a blade that will last much longer.

FIE homolgated blades are blades for which samples have been
tested by SEMI (the FIE equipment commission) to meet a set of criteria for materials, quality, and durability. They're required at international 'A' grade competitions. FIE blades are not required for domestic competitions by the USFA, but it's a good idea to use
them if for no other reason than the greatly superior durability will save you money in the long run.

Russian and Ukranian FIE blades cost less than Blaise Freres blades mainly because of the very favorable exchange rate with the Ruble. If anything, they are actually superior to BF FIE blades in terms of durability. If you like the feel, they're probably the best value for the money in blades.

That said, feel is important to most people. As other posters have noted, Vniti blades (and their epee blades in particular), are quite heavy. They have a smooth, moderate flexion. Blaise Freres blades are lighter than Vnitis, less point-heavy, and stiffer. You might also consider the STM maraging blades, from Ukraine-- they are lighter than Vnitis, but typically less stiff that BF blades. If you want a very light blade, then Leon Paul FIE epee blades are where you should look (a nice feature of Leon Paul is that they grade their FIE epee blades by stiffness, you can specify how stiff you want it without having to acutally be at the vendor going through their stock).

-Dave

[inventorriz]

What about france lames i say go with what is cheaper

[DHCJr]

First of all France Lame does not exist anymore. Secondly, when they were around, not all blades they made that appeared to be FIE were FIE. Unless you know how to tell a real France Lame FIE blade, you shouldn't get them.

[inventorriz]

Thanks a lot i just orderd one i am returning it