Electric foil blade Golubitsky-Pro

My son has had the weapon for 10 months now. He's made some serious almost 90 degree bends on the blade and he has been able to stretch the blade out (he places the weapon on the floor and steps on the blade while he pulls on it) back to its straight form. It's my son's only foil weapon so I'm glad it seems to be indestructible.

A real bad bend ocurred about 5 inches from the tip, but my son was able to stretch it out ok. After the match I checked the weapon and found that the canvas tape that goes on the tip was all frayed. I removed the tape and retaped it with some canvas tape (also retaped the electrical tape portion) and the bend did not happen during the remaining matches. I think it is important to always check that the canvas tape is in top shape as it seems to reinforce the tip.

I usually don't like maraging blades, because they're heavier than non-FIE, so they feel slow to me. That is not a problem with this blade. This is by far the lightest maraging blade I've ever used with the exception of Priuer.



Given earlier blades I had used from Leon Paul, I was worried that this one would be too flexible, but the G-Pro is just right. It's rock solid in the forte and flexes a small to medium amount in the foible. It doesn't flex enough to effect my point control. If flicks were my only actions, I'd try a different blade, but it bends enough to make the occasional flick feasible.



I've been using this blade for a year now, and it's still going strong. It has worked in a little, and gained a little more flex. It has also started to take kinks on hard hits. I like it so much I bought another one. They're pricey, but I figure I can afford one a year or so.

i wouldnt say they were the greatest. i prefer vniti. dont get fooled by just the name \"golubitsky\"; theres nothing to obsess over

The blade itself seems good, I have always been extremely reluctant on LP blades, they were, for the most part way to soft for me. I have been, and currently am using PBT (LM) blades, and I love them, they seem just right, but out of desperation I bought one of these. They are lighter, which is nice, but the last 8" seem a tad to "Wippy" for me. I know they were designed this way, but it might take a bit to get used to. I do however, enjoy using it on left-handers, as it allows me to get a simple shoulder flick. I think for now I am going to stay with PBT blades, but I will keep this one.

I ordered a complete foil with the Golubitsky-Pro blade after trying several at my local club. I liked the balance and feel of the blade enough to pay the USD $161.



Ordering the blade went well. There are good pictures and other information on the Leon Paul USA web site. The items (I also ordered the 280C mask) were shipped promptly and I received an email with a tracking number.



However, when I received the foil, the blade appeared to have been twisted while grinding. In the last four inches of the blade (where it begins to thicken significantly), the cross section changes from a rectangle into a sharp rhombus or diamond. It also removes a great deal of the material from the forte section, changing the balance of the blade. I was very surprised such an obvious fault made it past Leon Paul’s quality control.



I contacted Leon Paul USA about the problem at sales@leonpaulusa.com (no telephone number is available) and asked for instructions on exchanging the blade. I received a terse, informal email in return that did not address my questions. Additional emails went unanswered. I repackaged the blade and returned to the US location. Follow up email messages went unanswered until I copied the UK office.



Today, I received the replacement foil. It has been almost a month since I returned the defective blade. The blade on this foil is also poorly ground, although not as bad as the first. I have not decided if I will keep the blade or return it.



Based on this experience, I would not recommend this blade. Although the mask I received was of high quality, the blade quality control issues and the very poor service from Leon Paul USA make it not worth the hassle.

I also have two and absolutely love them. They pretty much deliver what LP describes - stiff and stable through the forte out to maybe the last third or so of the middle, and then fairly whippy out in the foible, with the center of gravity low in the forte close to the guard. It seems to me they give solid parries and good point control with just enough whippyness out in the foible to let you whip or flick in hits if you like, or to sometimes bend very nicely around your opponent's parries. They're also really durable (at least they have been so far), recovering from bad curves with a lot of resiliency.

But I also agree with the other reviewer about there being some inconsistencies apparent. I was fortunate enough not to experience that much inconsistency in the actual behavior of the two blades I got (purchased simultaneously via mail-order). However, whereas in one, the groove for the wire runs quite true down the center of its side of the blade, in the other, it wanders back and forth from edge to edge of its side of the blade. It's kind of alarming-looking, but the blade nevertheless behaves perfectly (in fact is my favorite of all I own) so I'm still content.

I bought two G-pro blades from Leon Paul (LP) in November 2003. That means I have been using them for more than a year. I have to say that the more I use them, the more I love them. The G-pro blade gives me a comfortable feeling of both balance and control. Its front part is relatively more flexible and is most ideal for flick-thrust (don't flick too much now because of the shorten foil timing) while its forte is enhanced to provide an improved strength for parrying. The only drawback I found however, is not about the blade itself but from the manufacturer. There are differences between the two blades although both of them carry the Golubitsky-pro mark. One blade is obviously more heavier and flexible than the other. It means that I have to make some adjustments whenever I change weapon even though they are supposed to be of the same model!

But other than that, I think LP has done a very good job to introduce such a different choice of blade for the fencers. Frankly speaking, I am really got tired of the FS or BF. Their quality control is wierd and sometimes, I just can't believe that they are made by the same supplier at all!