Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

BoondockDuff · 01-15-2004, 03:17 AM

Okay, I've narrowed it down to Three from either TheFencingPost or Blue Gauntlet. I prefer a somewhat flexible blade with a strong enough forte to parry decently. Anyways, Here they go.

StM FIE Maraging #5 German $120.00

Leon Paul FIE Maraging #5 German $125.00

or

Vniti FIE GermanV2A and All Uhlmann parts for $127.00

The top two are from the Fencing Post while the Vniti is from Blue Gauntlet. I believe I get a 20% discount with The Fencing Post, so that would take it down considerably as well. Another option is the FIE Blade from FencingPBT which is 119.00.

This is the first major blade I have purchased (the only other blade I have had was a Maraging TCA blade that was too stiff for my liking.) I'm in college so money is sparse and I would appreciate any further help. Thanks.

SJB · 01-15-2004, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Vniti FIE GermanV2A and All Uhlmann parts for $127.00

I've had more than a few Vnitis. They're really whippy. Some are a little stiffer than others but in general they're as flexible as a circus contortionist.

Rolls · 01-15-2004, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SJB
I've had more than a few Vnitis. They're really whippy. Some are a little stiffer than others but in general they're as flexible as a circus contortionist.

I just got my first Viniti blade. I've been using it for a couple of weeks. While it is flexible, I would hardly say that it is as whippy as SJB makes it out to be. Granted there can be differences from blade to blade. I would say that mine has a very medium flexibilty. I have been completely satisfied with it so far.

Rolls.

Hyperion1250 · 01-15-2004, 02:03 PM

Ok, had a long message typed up but i'm scrapping it. I swear by TCA weapons. The PBT FIE is the same blade with a different stamp. Leon Paul Blades are a lot like fly rods, too whippy. Don't know about vniti, though they're supposed to be heavier. And i don't much like StM's NON-FIE blades. There's my 2 cents

The0ne · 01-15-2004, 02:26 PM

Vniti's are very nice. They aren't amazingly flicky but I can still get the shots on the back when the person is right next to me. THey also have nice control, so your blade doesn't jerk all a round when you disengage. I recommend them.

danp · 01-16-2004, 11:41 PM

I like the Vniti FIE Maraging - it's got just enough whip to it to make flicks, but so far the 2002 stamped blades have have held their form well. The price is right as well.

I have one 2003 StM FIE Maraging, and it's like a broom handle. I use it for practice to make myself stronger ;-)

Honestly, a lot of these blades seem to vary year to year... This years StM seems very stiff to me...

Good luck,
-Dan

klauver · 01-23-2004, 05:46 PM

I miss my old Super Prieur foil blades. I like my blades stiff so that I can control an opponents blade starting just below my foible!

Rambaldi47 · 01-25-2004, 05:10 PM

I have an old frances lame blade that was awesome, but now someone told me that their blades are now crap---true?

Tireur · 01-25-2004, 06:27 PM

Quote:

I miss my old Super Prieur foil blades.

Man, I haven't seen those in a while. Still got a couple in the attic somewhere, I think.

The0ne · 01-25-2004, 08:02 PM

Rambaldi-

Prieur bought France-lames, so now no france-lames blades are made. The FIE france-lames were decent a couple of years ago, but a little too stiff for my tastes.

ztron24 · 02-04-2004, 10:52 PM

i'd sware by the leon paul. it'll last forever, develop a nice bend, and it's light but not THAT whippy. personal fav.

neevel · 02-04-2004, 11:37 PM

France Lames non-maraging blades took a dive into the toilet about 7 years ago. The also put out a run of falsely labled "FIE" blades (the FIE-N stamp, as in FIE-NOT), and a run of FIE blades with unbendable tangs. Aside from those two batches, their FIE blades never struck me as having the same quality issues as the non-FIE blades.

FL went out of business a couple of years ago in an Enron-esque puff of accounting & tax scandals. Prieur subsequently paid salvage for what was left and put the forge back into operation. The FIE blades still use the Frances Lames stamp, since that's what has SEMI approval. The new FIE blades ("Chevalier d'Auvergne" is the model name) seem pretty good, but they're lighter and more flexible than the old FL FIE blades were. I haven't seen any non-FIE blades from the revived forge, so I can't say if the quality has improved.

-Dave

remise · 02-05-2004, 04:21 PM

I once had an epee that was so whippy that when I disengaged, I never knew where the point was going to end up. It made for some really interesting practice sessions. Once, I grabbed it by accident in a tournament, and my opponent remarked about a touch that I scored with it.

"I didn't see that hit coming,"he said. I told him not to feel bad - I didn't see it forming.