GT Ultra Foil Point
Product Details
This is a totally new point design that has been fitted to all Leon Paul Maraging blades other than the Budget since March 2004. They have a smoother action new long lasting stainless springs and hardened screws while still retaining many of the features of the outgoing GT point. Unfortunately; although our points (both GT and standard) had been fully interchangeable for 35 years the new tips and barrels are not interchangeable but the springs and screws are.
New Features include:
ONE MM COUNTER BORE ON THE THREAD THAT ATTACHES THE POINT TO THE BLADE
New regulations mean that there now has to be 1mm of counter bore inside the barrel before the thread starts. This helps to secure the point and helps prevent wobble from undoing it.
LONGER BEARING SURFACE
The length of the bearing surface has been increased by 35% making it far longer than any other on the market. This gives a smoother action and prevents the top from wobbling within the barrel/base reducing wear.
HARDENED GRUB SCREWS
The new screws are hardened increasing their lifespan by around 30-50%. The size of the head has been reduced meaning that the screw can sink further into the countersink on the barrel/base for the best protection.
FULLY STAINLESS CONSTRUCTION AND TOUGHER INSULATOR
All of the metal of the point is stainless steel and the insulation is made of a new tougher material.
TOUGHER STAINLESS SPRINGS
The new springs are the same size as the outgoing ones and are compatible with all of our points both old and new. They are now made of stainless steel and have a much longer life and greater consistency.
Features that carry over from the old point include:
LOW FRICTION PERFECTLY MATCHED SURFACES
The internal bore has been honed to a surface finish of 15 mu (as against the typical continental point of 49 mu). The subsequent coating of metallic nickel with embedded particles of sub micron particles of P.T.F.E makes the dynamic surface friction ten times less than standard nickel coatings found on all other points.
INCREACED RESISTANCE TO DEFORMATION
When an opponent's blade or guard hits the base of your point it can become deformed which causes the point to stick or fail to register flick hits. The resistance of the barrel to deformation is proportional to the cube or the wall thickness, which for the new point means it is 2.75 times stronger than other popular points. Although the wall thickness has been increased to 1.1 mm the weight of the complete point is 3.85 grams (identical to German points).
COUNTERSUNK POINT SCREWS
The point screws are countersunk, which prevents the tops of the screws from being damaged. The point still retains the original Leon Paul point design concept, which means the point can rotate freely within the barrel which creates a constant cleaning action preventing intermittent white lights caused by build up of dirt.
Product Ratings
- Overall Rating
- 92%
Attachments
I installed these tips on all my foild about 6 months ago, and so far I have been very satisfied with their performance. They function at least as well as the german tips I had previously. 6 months is not really long enough to comment on durability, but they do seem to be holding up very well.
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I really like these tips, but there are a few problems that keep me from giving them a perfect rating.
I'll start off with the good: these are the most durable points on the market. In a year of fencing exclusively with these, I've never had a smashed screw or barrel. Any problems I had could be fixed simply by cleaning. And the best part about these is that you don't need to take the screws all the way out to take the point apart.
The bad: The springs wear out too quickly. This is really the only major problem. I've had brand new springs fail the weight test after a day of fencing.
The screws do wear due to the design, and I replaced mine after a year--not really a big deal.
The travel is on average not quite as smooth as German points. I've had rougher German points and smoother LP points, but the travel in Germans is a little smoother on average. Some LP points do seem to have a break in period, during which they start out a little rough, then smooth out.
All in all, the points are great, but I'd like to see springs that were up to standard, because I don't want to have to stretch mine out all the time.
I'll start off with the good: these are the most durable points on the market. In a year of fencing exclusively with these, I've never had a smashed screw or barrel. Any problems I had could be fixed simply by cleaning. And the best part about these is that you don't need to take the screws all the way out to take the point apart.
The bad: The springs wear out too quickly. This is really the only major problem. I've had brand new springs fail the weight test after a day of fencing.
The screws do wear due to the design, and I replaced mine after a year--not really a big deal.
The travel is on average not quite as smooth as German points. I've had rougher German points and smoother LP points, but the travel in Germans is a little smoother on average. Some LP points do seem to have a break in period, during which they start out a little rough, then smooth out.
All in all, the points are great, but I'd like to see springs that were up to standard, because I don't want to have to stretch mine out all the time.
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Review Ratings
- Overall Rating
-
As with the epee tips, Alex sent me a care package with a complete GT point in it for evaluation. It\'s been a year, and I\'m determined to return the favor he gave to me by dishing out a package of free stuff.
I absolutely hate the fact that in my toolkit I have no less than five different types of screws. LP fixes this, one screw fits all six of their epee/foil point systems. Now if only everyone else can do this.
The barrel is just as indestructable as the epee, the point travel is actually just a little bit smoother, but this could be to the fact that my significant other, the much smaller, kinder side, is using them, and not bashing people like I did when I fenced foil. I haven\'t had to touch her weapon with the point on it, while at the same time, I\'ve fixed two german tips, three french tips, and still, nothing wrong with the LP tip.
They\'re a bit costly, and I\'ve been switching her points to the LP non-GT tips, but her main weapon, and favorite still remains the GT-tip. If you\'re a buy and forget type fencer, get these tips. Now.
I absolutely hate the fact that in my toolkit I have no less than five different types of screws. LP fixes this, one screw fits all six of their epee/foil point systems. Now if only everyone else can do this.
The barrel is just as indestructable as the epee, the point travel is actually just a little bit smoother, but this could be to the fact that my significant other, the much smaller, kinder side, is using them, and not bashing people like I did when I fenced foil. I haven\'t had to touch her weapon with the point on it, while at the same time, I\'ve fixed two german tips, three french tips, and still, nothing wrong with the LP tip.
They\'re a bit costly, and I\'ve been switching her points to the LP non-GT tips, but her main weapon, and favorite still remains the GT-tip. If you\'re a buy and forget type fencer, get these tips. Now.
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- Overall Rating
-
These tips are great! I purchased some a couple months ago due to the fact that I was fed up with my French tips. Compared to anything else I have used, these are by far the smoothest and only have enough travel to do the job, which is awsome.
The barrel seems super tough, it's very thick, although it is really long. I was forced to grind down a tad bit off the blade to get it to fit. Don't worry, I know what I was doing, and I know that isn't the best thing, but it was my only option to get them to fit my PBT blades.
The screws are just as tough as the blade, I have yet to screw (no pun intendend) one over, or even mar one.
Overall, these are awsome tips. I would reccemend them to anyone!
The barrel seems super tough, it's very thick, although it is really long. I was forced to grind down a tad bit off the blade to get it to fit. Don't worry, I know what I was doing, and I know that isn't the best thing, but it was my only option to get them to fit my PBT blades.
The screws are just as tough as the blade, I have yet to screw (no pun intendend) one over, or even mar one.
Overall, these are awsome tips. I would reccemend them to anyone!
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I came across these tips by accident. I had written a review about some of the older LP tips I had used and I was contacted by LP asking if I would like to try out the new ones and give my thoughts about them. The new tip arrived just as I had destroyed the screws in yet another German tip (a V2A this time) on my main weapon so I rewired it using the new LP tip.
The first thing I noticed was that this was by far the smoothest tip I had ever used. The screws fit very flush to the barrel and the barrel is nice and thick. Overall fit and finish of the point and its parts are the best I have seen. After using the first one for a bit I noticed that I was running through springs at a faster than normal rate. I contacted LP and got some of their new springs for the tip and some of their improved hardened screws.
Since then I have installed these tips on all of my main competition foils and could hardly be happier. The new tips are pretty much bulletproof. The action is consistently smooth and the tips stay free of dirt and gunk very well, due to the excellent fit and close tolerances I assume.
I have been using these tips on four weapons (three Vniti and one StM FIE foils) for between almost a year and a half (for the first one) and about six months for the newest one. I fence several times a week and attend one or two tourneys a month. In all that time I have only had very minor routine maintenance to do to these tips with one exception. On my oldest one the tip collar separated from the shaft resulting in a stuck point. I replaced the tip and it is still going strong.
There are a couple of things that could be a bit better in a perfect world. My older points/springs will sometimes stick after a hard hit resulting in a persistent off target. A quick whack on the strip or against my foot and all is right again. The only other problem is that it seems possible to overtighten the screws and this will sometimes result in off targets. If you try to use other screws than the LP ones this problem can get worse, but the fault is not the tips but in the person doing the maintenance on them.
These tips give even greater smoothness than the German tips without all the problems of dented barrels and smashed screws that the German tips are prone to and last much longer than even a good French tip like a Sport 7. These are by far the best foil tips I have found, and I am not a particularly easy person to please!
The first thing I noticed was that this was by far the smoothest tip I had ever used. The screws fit very flush to the barrel and the barrel is nice and thick. Overall fit and finish of the point and its parts are the best I have seen. After using the first one for a bit I noticed that I was running through springs at a faster than normal rate. I contacted LP and got some of their new springs for the tip and some of their improved hardened screws.
Since then I have installed these tips on all of my main competition foils and could hardly be happier. The new tips are pretty much bulletproof. The action is consistently smooth and the tips stay free of dirt and gunk very well, due to the excellent fit and close tolerances I assume.
I have been using these tips on four weapons (three Vniti and one StM FIE foils) for between almost a year and a half (for the first one) and about six months for the newest one. I fence several times a week and attend one or two tourneys a month. In all that time I have only had very minor routine maintenance to do to these tips with one exception. On my oldest one the tip collar separated from the shaft resulting in a stuck point. I replaced the tip and it is still going strong.
There are a couple of things that could be a bit better in a perfect world. My older points/springs will sometimes stick after a hard hit resulting in a persistent off target. A quick whack on the strip or against my foot and all is right again. The only other problem is that it seems possible to overtighten the screws and this will sometimes result in off targets. If you try to use other screws than the LP ones this problem can get worse, but the fault is not the tips but in the person doing the maintenance on them.
These tips give even greater smoothness than the German tips without all the problems of dented barrels and smashed screws that the German tips are prone to and last much longer than even a good French tip like a Sport 7. These are by far the best foil tips I have found, and I am not a particularly easy person to please!
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Review Ratings
- Overall Rating
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