Who has quality gear?

[Wolfman140]

Hey everyone,
I have to do some equipment shopping for our college fencing club...Does anyone have any recommendations for equipment? I was looking at Santelli, Triplette, Physical Chess, or Blade. Anyone have any good or bad comments about any of these...If you did that'd be much appreciated...Thanks a lot!
-Kevin

[MyraTrue]

A much discussed topic on this board...

my suggestion is to look at the Fencing Post... http://www.thefencingpost.com I think. They have good house equipment (Post's uniforms and blades are pretty reasonable quality for a fairly low price), AND they give 20% off for all e-mail orders. Good prices on shipping, know their products, etc.

I like them, and they've done pretty well by me.
Good luck!

Myra

[D'Artagnan1673]

There is little to nothing negative that comes to mind concerning the Fencing Post. I have also done a fair amount of business with Santelli and Triplette. I would recommend any of these compaines.

[Wolfman140]

Has anyone ever done any business with Physical Chess?
-Kevin

[Talen]

Originally posted by Wolfman140
Has anyone ever done any business with Physical Chess?
-Kevin

I haven't because I think their website needs to give more information. When I look at an item's description I'm left with the feeling I'm missing something :-)

To be fair, Blade and Blue Guantlet also have similar problems. It seems the best websites have the highest prices. But at least you know what you're getting.

I have done business with American Fencing & Santelli. Quality and service were good, prices high. I still have my original mask, jacket and foil (different blade) from AFS that I purchased in 1981. Not that I've fenced continuosly since then, but the stuff was well made. I have heard that they've changed ownership in the past few years and aren't as good as they were - how so I'm not sure.

Good luck in your hunt, and let me know how satisified you are with whoever you choose. I'm expecting to make a modest purchase next semester for our Continuing Education Classes.

BTW Wolfman140, I notice you're from Saratoga. I went to gradeschool there in the early 70s. Small world!

[rsy]

Wolfman,

Triplette has good prices, but the equipment I have ordered from them has had quality control problems. IMHO they have the worst wiring skills I have ever seen. But if you buy a bare blade and wire it yourself, you can get good deals from them.

I have had no problems in purchasing from Blade, Allstar, FenceSmart & Physical Chess and found the the only difference is the price of a given piece of equipment on a given day. They all used to have some common ownership (whether it was the same owner or just the same family I never could figure out). But Physical Chess is separated from them now and I understand it is going into some sort of joint venture with Santelli.

Blue Gauntlet doesn't always have the best prices, but they often have hard to find equipment, and they are easy to deal with (as long as you don't get Mr. Chen's mother on the phone, her accent is a little thick).

Some of the information on the web sites is a little cryptic (for instance the Allstar/Blade/FenceSmart sites call the Vniti foil the "Supreme"), but if you call them they can generally give you the information you need. And they often can tell you about equipment that is not on the sites.

Good luck.

-r

[Wolfman140]

Thanks everybody you really help out a **** load! I'll be sure to post how everything went. We think we're going to order our swords from Santelli and our electric equipment (masks, lames, wires) from Physical Chess. I'm assuming that since the stuff from Physical Chess won't take actual hard abuse like a blade, even if the quality is a little less it won't die on me.
Well actually I went to school in Schuylerville, NY...But I live a mile away from the Saratoga Battlefield so I just say I'm from Saratoga cuz most people known the race track and stuff. :-)
Thanks again guys for all your help but by all means keep posting if you got more info!
-Kevin