Beginner Equipment Questions

[spardacus]

Greetings!

I have just attended my second fencing class, and I could not be more excited to begin this journey.

I have wandered about the web a bit and found some great product and user feedback information, and wish to pose these specific questions to narrow my seach for equipment.

I am very interested in the Leon Paul Contour Fit Mask, F.I.E. approved with 1600 newton bib (Reference_280C_NEW) with the new Patented Contour Fit System.

http://www.leonpaul.com/acatalog/Leon_Paul_Designs.html

I plan to begin with foil ... not knowing if I may one day enjoy sabre as well (perhaps even compete in the distant future), can I use a Sabre mask when fencing foil and epee?

I wonder if I would merely save money in the long run by buying one mask for all competitions vs having a Foil/Epee mask AND a Sabre mask?

Also, I have read the Vniti blades are reliable, tough (though perhaps a bit stiffer) and economical.

http://www.fencing101.com/reviews/ce...ils&itemid=125

However, I am unsure as to how I can purchase a complete foil with the Vniti blade.

Where might I go to purchase a professionally assembled Foil with Vniti blades?

Many thanks for enertaining my rudimentary questions.

[Rolls]

First, many will advise you being new to the sport to wait on purchasing equipment or to purchase lower quality begginer items. I completely disagree. Good equipment is a must. It'll last longer and be more comfortable.

For the mask, I would suggest deciding on foil/epee or sabre. I believe if you wore a sabre mask in a foil competition, there's a chance if the bib is touching your foil lame it could register as target area (although it may be perfectly acceptable for epee, I'm not sure).

I have heard good things about the Leon Paul contour fit mask, although I have never used one. I have the Uhlmann 1600 FIE, myself, which I would definitely recommend.

I recently began using the Viniti foil blade. I like it very much. I bought mine from Blue Guantlet. You can purchase a completely built weapon from them. Also, Triplette sells the viniti blade for a bit cheaper. When I was ordering mine before Christmas, they were out of them (also I would trust Blue Guantlet more with building my weapons).

I hope that offers some help to you.

Rolls.

[spardacus]

Rolls,

Can't thank you enough or your time.

Considering the feedback I have read online, I just had a "strange" conversation with Triplette. They said they don't recommend Vniti blades. When I asked why, she said "Because they break!"

Of course Triplette uses Blaise Freres blades which is what they recommend.

Any opinions?

Thanks again!

[Rolls]

I've only been using mine for about three weeks. But I have put some pretty good wear on it, and it's just as straight as the day I got it. I would say that just about any FIE maraging blade will probably last you a long time.

As for Triplette, I think they are a biased towards there name brand blades. They come from the BF forge, and I have heard they are of good quality. But I think it's erroneous to say that the Viniti blades aren't a good value.

Also, I don't think that Triplette has the best costumer service. Here's an example. When I called to purchase a Viniti blade, the responce I recieved was, "We're out." That's it. No time frame when they would have them back again, no suggestion of a substitute, nothing. So, I said good bye, hang up, and ordered the blade on line with Blue Guantlet. It was a waste of a long distance call for me.

Rolls.

[Thomas]

Im about to attend my second class! The brand Im set on is Leon Paul. They have an impressive site and user feedback. And go with what Rolls said, spare no expense, I for one think its stupid to buy lower quality items just becuase your a beginner.

[SJCFU#2]

If you are going to compete in foil then you may want to spend the extra money up front and buy good electrical equipment, but if you are likely to shift to another weapon once your beginner's course is finished, you might just save the money and get a dry foil (or even just borrow one from the club).

I would not recommend buying a saber mask unless you are certain that you will be competing in saber. They are expensive, and their primary distinguishing feature is a conductive metallic bib (which is usually the first thing that wears out) that isn't required for foil or epee. If you get a good foil-epee mask with a hard rubber or leather band over the top seam (what used to be called a three-weapon mask) then you can use it for dry saber.

[spardacus]

Great points all around ... thank you.

I agree about the Leon Paul site and equipment. I love their "Contour Fit Mask, F.I.E. approved with 1600 newton bib (Reference_280C_NEW) with the new Patented Contour Fit System".

I believe this will be my choice.

I am trying to confirm if the removable bib is included on the Foil/Epee mask or if it is only available on the Sabre mask?

I believe I will take a bit more time on the weapon purchase. There seem to be so many options and key elements to the weapons assembly, grip, blade, electrical components, tip, etc, etc.

En guarde!

[Delmont]

I would recomend Leon Paul as well. Its my brand of choice so to speak. The sabre masks are electrified, as I'm sure you know so that is why they are sabre specific. You could wear them in foil and epee I imagine, but I don't think it would be a good idea. I don't think it would conduct if it was just touching the foil lame, but it might. I think the lining is non-cunductable since you have to attach a cord from the back of your lame to the metal part of the mask. I'd only worry about electric equipment when you start getting into competition, I personally am going to buy the countour fit mask here soon, then an electric sabre mask in the future. Hope some of that helped.

[DangerMouse]

Originally posted by spardacus
I am trying to confirm if the removable bib is included on the Foil/Epee mask or if it is only available on the Sabre mask?

It's only on the sabre mask. It's easy to clean the mask in the sink with a little woolite, so the removable bib really isn't necessary. I've had my contour fit for about 7 months now and it's by far the most comfortable mask I've ever worn.

[prototoast]

Go with a foil/epee mask.

Even if you later decide to switch to sabre, you would be able to use the other mask for practice, so as to preseve the conductivity of your sabre mask bib.

[spardacus]

Excellent point!

[Elfdaughter]

Originally posted by spardacus
Greetings!

I have just attended my second fencing class, and I could not be more excited to begin this journey.

I plan to begin with foil ... not knowing if I may one day enjoy sabre as well (perhaps even compete in the distant future), can I use a Sabre mask when fencing foil and epee?

Yay, me too! as for masks - I'm in the SCA, so I need a three-weapon mask - that might work for you as well.

By the way, anyone know where I can get non-electrical foils?

[spardacus]

Elfdaughter,

Thanks for jumping in with your much appreciated feedback.

Concerning your seacrh for non-electric foil ... try the following link. I ran across it a few days ago, and it has most of the vendors have been able to find.

http://www.geocities.com/bufencing/Equipment.htm

Of course there is much in the way of opinions regarding Vniti, vs Blaise Freres blades, etc, etc, etc .... I'm waiting to learn a bit more from my fencing instructors on that purchase.

___________________________________

I would like to pose a question regarding Poly vs Cotton uniforms. I have always hated poly shirts, and wear nothing but cotton shirts because they are cooler.

I can see that the stretch factor would be great for the athleticism in fencing, but how warm is the poly jacket going to be?

How durable is the poly with respect to rips, runs and pulls in the fabric. With the plastron and lame, does the poly jacket offer adequate impact protection?

Finally, I am a male fencer at 5'11" and 175 pounds. What manufacturer would be best for a medium build such as mine?

Many thanks ...
I am spardacus

[Elfdaughter]

Thanks, that helps!

[canthidefromme]

Originally posted by Thomas
Im about to attend my second class! The brand Im set on is Leon Paul. They have an impressive site and user feedback. And go with what Rolls said, spare no expense, I for one think its stupid to buy lower quality items just becuase your a beginner.

Not because you're a beginner, but because you're unsure if you want to continue. You in general, not you in particular.

[Black Jeebus]

I purchased a Leon Paul foil recently and am having to get used to its sort of whippiness. It is more flexible than my other blade (of an unknown lower quality brand), but over all I like the blade a lot.

[Elfdaughter]

Yay!! I've just got a foil and mask (from e-bay...yeah, I know....) but it'll be good to practice with. After the Rent-a-Don (an SCA thing!) there's normaly a chance to buy foils etc, so I'll be keeping an eye out there. I'll also have a more experienced fencer with me, so she'll be able to make sure that I get a reasonable foil.

[klauver]

Just a point of clairification, none of the masks have removeable bibs. Some masks have removeable internal liners which are great for those people who like to wash their gear every so often!

Leon Paul doesn't...

Also, I don't recommend that any beginner should by maraging blades, Vniti is one, because they are made to break more easily and cleanly. While you are learning to judge your fencing distance, you will undoubtably break several comparitively expensive blades. Save the maraging blades for fencing in FIE competitions.

[DHCJr]

Originally posted by klauver
Just a point of clairification, none of the masks have removeable bibs. Some masks have removeable internal liners which are great for those people who like to wash their gear every so often!

Leon Paul doesn't...

Just a point of clarification. There are two types of masks that have removable, older masks with snap-in bids that are not legal for competition, unless someone sews them permanently. The second is the Leon Paul X-change Sabre mask, which is FIE approved.

If you had said no Epee or Foil Mask legal for competition has removable bibs, you would have been correct.

I suggested to Barry at the 2001 Worlds, he should have a cloth bib for Sabre, so fencers could fence non-electric without having to use the lame bib. One of the points he made was the design was not for daily changing of bibs, but to allow the replacement of the bibs.

Barry, for cleanlyness, could you made a Foil/Epee Mask with removable bibs.

[Rambaldi47]

Some one told me that you can order BF blades from tripplette in different flexibilites...does anyone know if this is true? And what is the rating system for flexibility? Thanks