Fencing Equip: Long Blades

[Dept of PMM Hall of Steel]

We currently provide blades for "rapier", parry and thrust fencing, and "side sword", cut and thrust fencing. Our blades are all customizable in terms of length and stiffness. Most of our blade models may be ordered either straight or curved. The curve is measured in inches from straight at the center of the blade. If a blade with two inches of curve were held edge up on a table with the point and shoulder of the tang touching the table top, then the back of the blade at its highest would be two inches above the table. For more detailed information see the descriptions of the individual blades below. 

Our blades are available with either rod or flat tangs depending on the model. Rod tangs come in a diameter of 5/16" and are threaded 6x1 metric. We began manufacturing the stronger 5/16" diameter tangs to withstand the stresses encountered in the more percussive side sword style of fencing. Our blades have a number of advantages over other commercial blades. Due to a unique double taper design our product is neither too stiff nor too whippy, providing a blade which is light enough at the tip for flexibility but with enough increasing stiffness to provide a good forte. Additionally all variants are made with a racetrack cross section to greatly extend blade life. Such a rounded edge is far more difficult to nick and simultaneously reduces damage to an opponents equipment. 

http://www.alcheminc.com/longblades.html

 

Blade Testing

The stiffness of blades vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, from type to type, and even within a batch of the same type by the same manufacturer. A number of tests have been devised to determine blade stiffness. We prefer the bathroom scale test due to its simplicity.

To conduct this test, slowly press a blade point down on a bathroom scale. Use the palm of the hand to avoid preventing it from flexing. At some point the blade will bend and the weight displayed by the scale will momentarily cease to increase. This is the flex force of the blade. Next grip the tang tightly and slowly press the point down on the bathroom scale carefully countering its tendency to flex. At some point the blade will suddenly bend and the displayed weight will drop. The maximum weight attained prior to the drop is the maximum flex force of the blade.

http://www.alcheminc.com/stiffness.HTM

[Dept of PMM Hall of Steel]

Alchem Flat Tang Blades For Schlager, Rapier & Cut And Thrust Fencing

 

These blades are manufactured in a range of widths and lengths. Lengths may be from 27 inches up to the full 40 inches. We now also offer a long sword version of our flat tang blade in lengths from 38 to 42 inches with tangs up to 12 inches. These have 1 1/4 inch wide tangs. Flat tang blades may be ordered curved. Our Alchem blades have a maximum flex force of from 18 to 25 pounds and a flex force of from 10 to 12 pounds. If you require a specific maximum or minimum stiffness, please remember to specify this when ordering. If not specified we shall ship a blade of average stiffness. Our long blades, hilted or unhilted, are shipped with a rubber bird blunt. Additional blunts may be ordered separately.

 

The blade illustrated in the photo on the left is our flat tang model. These have a width of from 1 1/8 inches to 1 3/4 inches at the shoulder, depending on the overall length, and a constant taper to the button of the tip which has a width of approximately 3/8 inches. Our flat tang blades have a length up to to 43 inches. Blades under 40 inches in length have a 1 inch wide tang, narrowing to 7/8 inches at the pommel end. 38 to 42 inch long sword blades have a 1 1/4 inch wide tang, narrowing to 7/8 inches at the pommel end. Also, please note: Our flat tanged blades require a custom pinned pommel which may be ordered separately. Additionally, flat tang blades may be ordered slightly curved at no extra charge. This slight curve is only cosmetic and provides the user with no real advantage. A greater amount of curve may be added for an extra charge of $10.

 Customer Review of this product.

 

Alchem up to 40" flat tang blade $75 US ($70 foreign) 1.18pounds = .54kgs
To US To Canada Other Countries
Alchem 38" to 43" flat tang long sword blade $85 US ($75 foreign) 1.18pounds = .54kgs
To US To Canada Other Countries
Add extra curve to your flat tang blade $10 US
When ordering, be sure to specify the desired blade length, and whether you want it curved. PayPal provides a buyer comment to seller option. The default if not specified is 36 inches and straight.

http://www.alcheminc.com/longblades.html

[Dept of PMM Hall of Steel]

Alchem Rod Tang Safeflex Blades For Schlager, Rapier And Cut And Thrust Fencing

 

We currently produce two variants of our Safeflex rod tang blades, a schlager/rapier, and a broadsword model. These are a scaled up thicker version of our popular dagger blades. For four examples of these, see the photo to the right. The left most is the narrow schlager/rapier pattern which has a maximum blade width of one inch at the shoulder. Second from the left is our discontinued colichemarde pattern. The two right most blades are the broadsword pattern in a straight and curved version. Safeflex long blades are up to 1 1/4 inches wide at the shoulder of the tang and taper to approximately 3/8 inch at the tip button. The 7 1/2 inch long overall tang consists of a 5/16 by 1/2 inch rounded shoulder tapering over 1 inch down to a 5/16 inch diameter by 4 1/2 inch long rod, and a 7/32 inch diameter by 2 inch long end threaded 6x1 metric. The schlager/rapier and broadsword can be ordered finished in a blade length from 24 inches up to the full 40 inches. Additionally, the schlager/rapier and broadsword versions may be ordered slightly curved at no extra charge. This slight curve is only cosmetic and provides the user with no real advantage. A greater amount of curve may be added for an extra charge of $10. Our blades, hilted or unhilted, are shipped with a rubber bird blunt. Additional blunts may be ordered separately.

Prices are as follows:
Safeflex 24" to 40" schlager/rapier fencing blade with blunt $65 US ($60 foreign) .83pounds = .38kgs
To US To Canada Other Countries
Safeflex 24" to 40" broadsword fencing blade with blunt $65 US ($60 foreign) .83pounds = .38kgs
To US To Canada Other Countries
Add extra curve to your Safeflex schlager/rapier or broadsword blade $10 US
When ordering a Safeflex blade, be sure to specify the desired blade length and whether you want it straight or slightly curved. PayPal provides a buyer comment to seller option. The default if not specified is 36 inches and straight.

 

http://www.alcheminc.com/longblades.html