Triplette gear?

[belligerent_sorceress]

Does anyone have any experience with Triplette? I used the coupon that came with my USFA card to order a stainless lame, body cord, and Dinamo foil.

This is the first gear purchase (besides my socks and glove, my equipment is school-owned). How long will these pieces last? I assume that it's intended to be entry-level equipment. What would be considered a good step up, a couple years from now?

Also, any opinions about Triplette's Ultralight lame? What kind of lames do you all use? Thanks...

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Melissa

"You can beat me, you can bind me, but you can't touch me!

[southernepee]

Yes, I have a lot of experience with TCA, and overall, I'd give their labeled equipment a B+. Dinamo blades are of the cheap Russian variety...don't expect a lot from them, at least with Dinamo epees.
As for their body cords, no complaints.
Since I am an epeeist, I can't comment intelligently on their foil equipment.

-Pete

[neevel]

The ultralight lames will hold their conductivity for well nigh forever, but the material is brittle and will eventually start to tear and fray, especially at the seams. They still need to be washed occasionally to get rid of any salts or other gunk that might build up on them. Actual useful lifespan seems to be about on par with a frequently-washed Blue Gauntlet lame, based on my experience with examples of both in my club equipment-- conductivity is the limiting factor for the BG lame, physical wear and tear on the fabric for the Triplette lame.

Good steps up would be maraging blades and German points for you foils.

-Dave

[MikeHarm]

I hated their overuse of velcro, my super duty stainless lame I bought in 95 is still in good shape though. The Epee's I bought from them failed weight and shim tests when they arrived. Their cheesy plastic grips also didn't hold up at all under use and would slowly start rotating while I was fencing with the french grip models.

Mike

[Arturo]

Triplette has good equipment. The problem is that the quality of it is not consistent.
For example, I bought an ultralight lamme from TCA Jan of 00, at nationals in Austin, the lamme failed the inspection.At my club, we have some of the same TCA lammes that are much older and get a lot more use, that still pass...
I walked over to the TCA table, told them what happened and they sold me a Stainless Steel one for %50 off.
As far as costumer service, I think that they are the best. The company comes down to just about all the tournaments we host(and we are all the way in south Ga!).

TCA is in my opinion one of the best out there.

[This message has been edited by Arturo (edited 03-15-2001).]

[oiuyt]

For the most part I've been happy with Triplette. About 5 years ago I bought a couple of whatever was their cheapest epee blades at the time and they broke fairly quickly, but EVERYTHING else I've ever gotten there has been really good quality and as Arturo said they're the best for customer service.

I strongly recomend the Blaise Frere blades that are sold under the Triplette label. These are the same blades that Allstar and Uhlmann sell, just with a different stamp, but considerably cheaper. For a step up I'd try these rather than go all the way to maraging (although these also come in maraging but that's a couple steps up).

Haven't used any of their lames.

Incidently I believe they no longer offer plastic grips (for the reasons cited by MikeHarm).

-B

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"Oh but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!"

[Catal]

I've gotta vouche for those BF Epee's aswell; damn fine blades. I also recommend their Prieur made body cords. However, I don't like the TCA masks or their gloves. The mask padding is lacking and the glove cuffs are too short for my taste. I used to have their lowest end mask, but I got hit very aggressively, twice in the head, by someone with a stiff FIE blade; several wires in the top layer of the mesh was broken. I haven't had a chance to check out their 2000 model helmet, though; that may indeed be a good helmet, considering the amount of force the bib can withstand even in it's non-FIE version. As for gloves, you could get a better washable model for $25 at Blade (as much as I'd hate to admit it). I can't say much about the lames'; they're pretty and they fit. I don't like their Dinamo series at all. My club ordered a couple Dinamo foils; they're okay as long as someone doesn't run into them with too much force, consequently, all of the Dinamo foils we had have been destroyed within a few months of fencing. If you're doing foil, I would suggest the Glory series from Blade (damn them). We've a lot of aggressive fencers in my club, and to my surprise, not a single damaged foil blade. Anyway, Triplette is good, stay away from Dinamo stuff.

[This message has been edited by Catal (edited 03-16-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Catal (edited 03-16-2001).]

[BarryTice]

I'm not hard enough of my blades (nor picky enough about them) to make any intelligent comment. (My only two electric epeés are FLs I bought from Triplette 7 or 8 years ago. Still the original blades, wires, grips. No complaints.) Likewise, I've never had a body cord (the orange ones, two-prong for foil) fail on me.

I have a club mate who has had problems with barrels coming loose on Triplette-assembled epeés, but he's a bit of a Conan-style fencer at times. He's amazed that I've never had to take a wrench to mine, and I'm amazed at how often he has to tighten his, even with added Loc-Tite.

Also, don't expect your tips to be fine-tuned when you get them. It's your weapon, it's your fencing style, and it's your card if your weapon fails at the strip. When you get a weapon from ANYWHERE, expect to adjust the springs.

I got a Triplette stainless lamé about 10 years ago that is still in great shape. Of course, I've fenced epeé almost exclusively for the last six years or so, and was only hitting three or four tournaments per year before that.

My Triplette stretch jacket was about the best money I ever spent on fencing gear, and that's their cheap one. I also like my Unitard a lot, though it took three times to get it right. (I was measured for it by a Triplette representative at a tournament, but the Unitard I got fit like paint. I couldn't take it off by myself. I sent that back and they sent one the right size, but the left sleeve was double-lined instead of the right. The third one is great.) Throughout this, the people from Triplette were very apologetic and helpful.

Triplette is also a sponsor of my club in Birmingham, Alabama. They come to our two biggest tournaments each year, and lend scoring boxes and bungee sets. They're right, upstanding people, in my mind. From what I've seen, they support the fencing community as much as they are supported by it. I'll continue to get my stuff there until their philosophy takes a U-turn, which I hope doesn't happen.

-- b.r.t.

[flik]

My club deals almost exclusively with TCA. The Dinamo blades are inexpensive, and there's a bit a variability between blade stiffnesses - which is good for a club that wants to have a bunch of different blade types, but bad for an individual that wants something specific. Ask them for a particular stiffness though, and you'll get it. TCA's customer service is probably the best I've encountered so far. The blades last reasonably well - we've only broken three or four this year out of the 30+ we use. We have an epee blade from 1978 that still is one of the better blades around.

As Dave pointed out, the ultralight lames never seem to have conductivity problems. TCA's stainless lames don't seem to last as long as others.

My one complaint w/ TCA is the quality of their wiring jobs. Barrels come loose, wires pop out and are crimped at alarming rates. We don't buy any pre-assembled weapons from them any more.

I abused the h@!l out of my TCA low-grade mask for two years before it started failing the punch test at the seams.

[neevel]

Actually, their stainless lames appear to use stainless-coated copper strands, rather than all stainless. I've known a couple of people who purchased Triplette stainless lames, and eventually found the tell-tale green stains showing up around the neck-- the stainless electroplating eventually flakes off in places, allowing the copper to start corroding.

-Dave

[belligerent_sorceress]

Well, I received my gear. They sent a men's 36 lame instead of a women's, but it fits me fine so I don't really care. However, the 36 fits more like a Santelli 38...I had only worn Santelli lames so I was going by that system. It's not tight enough, but my tournament is on Sunday so I can't send it back.

The foil is very whippy but I need to bend the blade more. It also has that annoying plastic part attached to the guard socket for securing the body cord. I normally use cords with clips (except for the orange cord that I just bought), so this may become a nuisance...

I guess the only thing to do is hope for the best.

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Melissa

"You can beat me, you can bind me, but you can't touch me!

[southernepee]

That's another thing...Triplette is infamous for screwing up orders. I'd say literally 30-40% of my orders from them have contained the wrong stuff. That's usually why I wait and buy from them at fencing events.
It's pretty annoying, but they're pretty good about making it right.

-Pete

[mango fever]

i like triplette, they're good, i like their tags - they remind me of the italian flag.

[Stryder]

MikeHarm: 1st: You bought plastic grips? Kick yourself from me. 2nd: You use a French grip? Give yourself a disdainful look, also from me.

Triplette! Fencing suppliers to the uneducated. Just kidding. TCA has been among the best suppliers for beginners in my opinion. DO NOT BUY stainless steel lame's from them or anyone else. TCA's Ultralite lame or Infinity's lames are the only way to go. Steel lame's cannot be folded, do not last as long and they wear out the inside of your mask as well as the parts of your jacket that rub against them. (Don't believe me? Check your mask.)

Once you decide that you are serious about fencing, buy from The Fencing Post.

Unlike TCA, The Post carries only two kinds of equipment: Good and better. TCA carries a lot of good stuff, but they also carry a lot of Kmart items that you'll be replacing very soon.

[swordsen]

What are you doing? Rolling your lame up and stuffing it inside your mask??????
No wonder it doesn't last very long......
I would beat anyone I saw doing that to one of the club's lames.


[This message has been edited by swordsen (edited 03-19-2001).]

[Amie]

what i think he means is the lame can wear out the inside of the bib. gilbert at PBT mentioned that INOX can do this to your bib because the threads are so rough.

Originally posted by swordsen:
What are you doing? Rolling your lame up and stuffing it inside your mask??????
No wonder it doesn't last very long......
I would beat anyone I saw doing that to one of the club's lames.


[This message has been edited by swordsen (edited 03-19-2001).]

[sabreuse]

I initially ordered my fencing stuff from Triplette because their catalog was easy to comprehend (pictures & descriptions & prices all in the same place!!) and because they were fairly inexpensive.

I first got their 3-weapon mask with the removable bib (like it a lot) and the canvas jacket. I think these will both last forever.

When I started competing I got their stretch jacket and knickers. Nothing fancy but very comforable. I also got the stainless sabre lame with the stretch panels in the back. It's a little stiff but I haven't felt constricted at all when I fence. I've been using it 2-3 times a week for over a year and it shows no significant signs of wear. I NEVER fold it. I always put it on a hanger to carry it around. If I absolutely have to put it in a bag a ROLL it up.

I've ordered body cords from Triplette that crapped out pretty quickly. I've ordered sabre blades and other parts that seem about the same as any other ones I've used.

I have their washable glove but feel neutral about it. The fingers are a little wide for me but I've got really slender hands. It's missing padding in some key places (back of the fingers above the knuckles, at the wrist) which are important in sabre fencing. But it's washable so I don't have to worry about "glove hand" and it seems to be holding up pretty well after a year and a half.

I have a Blades brand electric sabre mask and it seams like I'm always riveting it back together. At the time I couldn't afford Allstar. Whenever this one finally dies, I'll pony up the money for a good one.

[D'Artagnan1673]

[quote]Originally posted by Stryder:
<strong>MikeHarm: 1st: You bought plastic grips? Kick yourself from me. 2nd: You use a French grip? Give yourself a disdainful look, also from me.

Triplette! Fencing suppliers to the uneducated. Just kidding. TCA has been among the best suppliers for beginners in my opinion. DO NOT BUY stainless steel lame's from them or anyone else. TCA's Ultralite lame or Infinity's lames are the only way to go. Steel lame's cannot be folded, do not last as long and they wear out the inside of your mask as well as the parts of your jacket that rub against them. (Don't believe me? Check your mask.)

Once you decide that you are serious about fencing, buy from The Fencing Post.

Unlike TCA, The Post carries only two kinds of equipment: Good and better. TCA carries a lot of good stuff, but they also carry a lot of Kmart items that you'll be replacing very soon.</strong><hr></blockquote>


yes yes, I know, this is a ridiculously old post, but hey, I was bored. Thank you so much!!! I was wondering why my Allstar 3-weapon mask's bib was so torn at the bottom. (whimper whimper) I've been buying so much new gear that the thought of another Lame' will break me

[Fast Eddie]

I purchased 2 Triplett foils (with French grips - the Prieur rubber-over-aluminum ones - and thanks for the "distainful look"). Each had the top non-maraging blade (TCA brand), and I got the German body cords. I asked for the stainless guard, and both weapons arrived in perfect shape. This was 6 months ago, and I only recently broke one blade - this is despite use at our school several times a week, and numerous competitions... I also have a stainless lame, that fits like a glove, and shows no sign of wear or "greenery" at all. I've checked my mask for wear, but can't see any. I recently ponied up the bucks for 2 maraging blades, but wired them myself (with help from our ever-patient club armorer).
All-in-all, I have had only one problem with any of my orders from them - they sent 2 packages of tip screws instead of one, and the test buzzer they sent me won't stop making noise! I bought an Italian one that seems much better at Reno, from Swordmasters, for $27. Another vendor had the same item for $35, and I believe Zivkovic sells the same item with their stamp for about the same price, $35 or so... I will continue to buy from Triplett, especially since I get to ask Walter Triplett any difficult questions the nice order-takers don't have an answer for! <img src="graemlins/jester.gif" border="0" alt="[Jester]" />

[D'Artagnan1673]

Personally, aside from the tear on the bid of my mask, and the fraying of my jacket around the arms, I have always been exceptionally pleased with TCA's stuff.

Their socks are the best I've ever worn, and they are 10 dollars cheaper than the pretty France-Lames and Allstar socks. Their shirst are really catchy. I love the Descartes I fence therefore I am.

I've never worn a uniform by them, only Blade, Santelli & Uhlmann. The Blade uniform was terribly stiff and hot. I still love my Santelli jacket but it is a foil jacket only (light padding and no d-ring for Epee).

Foils and Epees from TCA, ah heaven. They have the Blaise Freres blades at the best prices in the US. You can get them anti-rust coated, actually works.

Anyway, for weapons and accessories, TCA is the way to go. Also, has anyone worn their stretch foil lame', for good is it?