Why do the blades of foils and sabres snap ?

Question

For the sake of erring towards caution in preventing potential fatal accidents, should old blades be junked or can they be salvaged ?

Is there any way to test them prior to use ?

(Shattered a few blades from practice foils and sabres, including an Alchem Schläger and a tca rapier, fortunately, the club is not asking for payment.)

Damascus steel as from the site below:
http://www.damascussteel.com/
http://www.a2armory.com/mearbowmewe.html
http://www.sharpblades.net/index.php?page=post&id=30
Are they not mostly for replicas ?

Foils and even fencing sabers have little cross section, and blades get broken all the time.

Answer 1

it is simple metal fatigue, as you continue to flex the blade it tends to occur in the same place. After a good lunge there is a lot of pressure placed on the weak point.

Worst case I had was I did a quick parry in foil and snap an young ladies blade about 10 inches up from the bell. No idea why it was a weak spot. felt bad cause I continues into the attack and got the point.

Old blades do not need to be junked - however if you steel wool them down to remove burs and rust, check for discolored areas (stress marks) in the blade. these I would ask your armorer about.

Answer 2

Try Damascus ( not the country a brand steel ) best tempered steel in the world, you could non destructive test them , either eddy current or dye penetrate, this would show up internal or external faults in the steel you are using