Equipment Advice Please

[Robur_Limax]

I am planning to order some equipment from The Fencing Post in San Jose, CA. Imma' be buying a foil starter kit and I get to choose from a number of blades and stuff but they ue acronyms or secret fencing lingo I can't put my finger on. Apparenltly, there is a $10-$20 difference between a JL ($37), a StM ($39) and a Prieur ($44). I know they're brandnames and the difference is quality but I'd like to learn from the plethroa of knowledge all of you have to offer.

Thanks beforehand guys.

--Jaime

[Swordmaster]

The JL is a Chinese made blade - high carbon, fair quaility, durability varies greatly within the same blade lot. It is because of the way the blades are formed and forged - all by hand and sight, there are no electronic temperature sensors in those forges.
The StM is a Ukrianian forged blade - better quality than the JL, less variance in durability. Their FIE blades are great, but there is a wide gap in quality finishing between the FIE and the standard blade.
The Prieur is a French brand- not necessarily made in France. Prieur, like Uhlmann and Allstar, is an equipment distributor and buys as will as makes blades from several forges. Prieur has bought the forges of France Lame and the are producing a very nice FIE blade from there. But as with any non-FIE blade you are gambling because there are less quality controls placed on the standard blades.
I would suggest the Vniti FIE Foil blade over all of the above including the FIE blades mentioned and the BF blades not mentioned above. The reason I recommend this blade are,
1. It is made from a different steel than any other on the market, it contains Vanadium which causes the steel to have a better memory, while allowing for better to good flexibility.
2. Each blade is flexibility tested and stamped with a code so that you can find blades that have simular flexibility characteristics months or even years down the road.
3. It works in very well, you don't end up with a piece of spaggetti in a few months that you keep having to straighten after every touch.
4. It is relatively inexpensive, go here to check the price.
With all that said, I would suggest you buy a little better blade than what you get in a starter set, especially if you are serious about continuing with that weapon.
Happy Hunting!
Scott

[oiuyt]

I agree with what Scott says above, although I haven't used the Vniti's. (Yeah, yeah, so my information is all second hand and by its nature somewhat suspect. It's reliable enough that I'm soon going to be buying a bunch of new blades and rebuilding my weapons though.) One thing to be aware of is that the link provided is to Scott's company.
Prices for the Vniti FIE foil blade (bare):
Sword-Masters (Scott's company): $72
American Fencer's Supply: $67
Blue Gauntlet: $65
Triplette: $59.95
Blade Runners (assuming they're still in business): $79
I didn't see the blades listed at any of the other US vendors that I checked. As you can see there's a range in prices. There's also a range in levels of customer service.

Of course if you're definately buying from TFP (I've never dealt with them, but what I've heard has been good) then the discussion of the Vniti really doesn't help much, no does it? :) In general, FIE blades will likely cost 2-3 times as much as non-FIE but last 6+ times as long making it worthwhile long-term. Whether or not that's still true for a beginner is another question.

There's also a reviews section of this website. I'd suggest going by and seeing what's posted there on any of the equipment that you're considering.

-B :)