After my recent experiments with heavier pommels, I had got one foil about perfect. Just right amount of bends in the tang/handle and the balance point just in front of the guard when...bang the tang broke inside the handle.
This is the second foil blade I have had go this way. There is a clear weak/stress point where the threading begins about an inch inside the handle. I know Leon Paul do a shorted threaded tang for some of their blades but I suppose this only moves the stress point further although it does allow the handle set to occur on unthreaded steel. I do tend to have rather large sets in these tangs in two directions but it never happened with the old slotted tangs so they may be on to something.
In the meantime I have been given an extra heavy epee pommel, weighing in at 145g or 5 oz. My own pommel plus fishing weights came to 135g. so a straight replacement achieved similar results and a much neater appearance! A web trawl revealed that Leon Paul will sell you a 150g or 200g epee pommel at Leon Paul prices i.e. $17.00 - $18.00 each.
A more acceptable price (to me) would be the 120g epee pommel by FWF from Fencing Net $6.00 each. I have two on order and we shall see what difference they make to my other foils. Clearly the weight and shape of the blade has some effect on the balance and it is very noticeable that the modern blades are much slimmer than the older blades. I found the difference to my fencing with a balanced v "normal" foil worth the effort in getting it right. I am told that it is possible to weld the broken blade, I shall see if I can get that done and report back.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Improve your rating!
Calling all U and E rated club members.
There are two competitions coming up at the Millstadt venue, just outside St Louis where the entries are limited to help you get your new rating.
The dates are:
Sunday February 3rd
Sunday March 10th
Both competitions are listed on Askfred.net
Go for it!!!!
--
From David in Springfield IL
There are two competitions coming up at the Millstadt venue, just outside St Louis where the entries are limited to help you get your new rating.
The dates are:
Sunday February 3rd
Sunday March 10th
Both competitions are listed on Askfred.net
Go for it!!!!
--
From David in Springfield IL
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