Saber Lames

Care and Buying Recommendations

Saber lames are probably the most expensive piece of equipment that exists in the sport, or at least it feels that way when they fail at the equipment table. Yet sadly it is probably one of the most commonly failed pieces of equipment besides body cords. So how can we make them last longer? Are there better options?

First, why do saber lames fail? It is because they are no longer conductive. This can happen for one of two reasons: the strands of metal in the lame have been broken, or the metal in the lame has corroded.

All lames are made of some form of conductive material. On the cheap end that is most commonly copper. Ever had a lame turn green? That is the copper in the lame "rusting". All the sweat has caused the metal to convert into copper oxide which is not conductive. The biggest thing is don't leave it in your fencing bag — it basically acts as a moist chamber. You want your lame on a hanger in an open area so it can dry out. At least once a month take it into the shower and rinse it out. If your lame gets really stinky you can soak it in a bucket of warm water with a cap of woolite or ammonia. Rinse well and hang to dry.

For non-copper lames, I would avoid traditional stainless steel for saber — the abrasive quality of the material causes the armpits to wear quickly. The better option is stainless steel wire woven into a soft cotton. Absolute calls this their Signature Series lame. PBT makes a similar lame called "Washable" Inox. Blue Gauntlet's version is called the EDGE Stainless Steel Lame.

A note on lightweight lames: they are not as durable and require more care. I generally don't recommend them for kids. If you want a lightweight lame try Leon Paul or Allstar.

A note on gloves: match your glove's lame material to your jacket's lame material. If you have a lightweight or softer stainless steel jacket, don't use a regular lame glove — the abrasiveness will ruin the conductivity of the jacket cuff.

Consider having a tournament lame and a practice lame. When your tournament lame fails, it becomes your new practice lame. Rinse and hang dry your tournament lame after every event.

TL;DR

Lames fail because they lose conductivity through corrosion or wear. Rinse your lame in the shower and hang it in an open space to dry. Don't leave it in your bag or a locker.

Recommendations: Absolute Signature Series, PBT "Washable" Inox, Blue Gauntlet EDGE. Avoid traditional stainless steel for saber. Lightweight lames can be good but require extra care — recommend Leon Paul or Allstar.