BF Gold (Non Maraging)

While my experience with these blades was such that I could expect them to last close to a fencing season, there are several other attributes that lead me not to recommend them. First, the blade is pretty stiff throughout.  Unlike some blades which are stiff in the forte and flexible in the foible, this one is just stiff everywhere. The blade did not maintain a curve to my satisfaction and it kinked-- sometimes laterally too-- in ways that I found challenging to remove. I'm sure that there are worse blades but considering that there are cheaper non-FIE blades available (some that even approximate FIE weapons in terms of balance and flexibility), I see no reason to grab this one.