S2000 (FIE) Sabre Blade

The Blaise Freres S2000 Sabre blade is pricey, but its reduced flexibility and stiffness is better than most and almost makes it worth the cost. One notices this rigidity especially when attacking as there is significantly less problem with whipover (one's opponent will be happier too since his parries will not be rendered useless). On defense, the improved stiffness only causes trouble when one's opponent's blade is too whippy. One fencer at our club has complained about the blade's weight, but in my experince it is not remarkably heavier than most sabre blades and it helps decrease the messy whipover problem, one that too often rewards points when they have not, in fact, been made. My only complaint, apart from the price tag, is that they tend to break sooner than the "noodle" blades. Despite those two objections, it is a good blade for those who prefer a bout without whipover or whip shots.