Santelli

Santelli is located in northern Jersey, just shy of the GW Bridge. If you're in the area looking for equipment it's well worth swinging by. If you go in person, they are usually nice about letting you see/handle stuff, get the feel, and I've even been shown around their production floor.



All around Service is excellent; the staff is personable, responsive, and eager to help. I've had no problems with returning items for replacement/credit when the wrong blades were ordered for my school club.



The quality is OK, but nothing special. Their whites are well made, and will last. They are not exceptional, but they are (in my experience) durable and reasonably priced. Their assembled blades are also durable. I own a pre-made epee blade that went a year without any need for adjustment, then required only a new point (not rewire). It's been 2 years now and the blade is still solid.



Online ordering can be difficult, as not all items can be easy to find within the "categories". However, their site has a convenient search feature that allows you to browse the full inventory list, and they are more than happy to help via phone.



The only Caveat with ordering from Santelli is their blade threads. Some of their Blades have 12-24 thread tangs, not the standard 6mm. These two threads are close enough to confuse most beginners and unfamiliar armorers, so be CAREFUL. I've had many a pommel or tang ruined by an overzealous fencer trying to tighten down a pommel that seemed "A little loose" when he was really destroying a 12-24 pommel on a 6mm tang. I would hesitate to mix these two sizes in a team armory, but at the very least color code them clearly.



Santelli also sells the "screwdriver nuts" for pistol grips. While it's nice to be able to use a standard screwdriver, I've found these are more apt to crack at the slot and leave you in a tough spot for removing them. Bite the bullet and get an inside hex.



-Pepster