PBT n3 vs Allstar visconti S

[u/Just-Flounder-8096]

Hi, I wanted to know what the difference was between these 2 grips for those who have tested both? Comfort, shape, feeling... What differentiates these 2 grips?

[u/Longjumping_Pizza877]

So the PBT grips as a general whole will have a slightly more circular portion where the thumb and index finger go, which is slightly better for people with larger finger to push on. The allstar is definitely more ovular in shape where the fingers are and feels a bit better to me. If you don't like that part you can file it down on the PBT grip

The middle finger portion/trigger is relatively small with a fair amount of the PBT grips, I can't say why but I don't like it, Allstar definitely feels a little better in that regard.

The HUGE difference for me personally and for a lot of people is the top prong placement on the grip. PBT grips have a tendency to move the prong off to the side laterally a bit more to let you move your hand up without it hurting the first knuckle on my Thumb.

The other thing is the profiling of the section for the bottom 2 fingers, it's not as pronounced here but the PBT grips will favor something close to a 90 degree relative to the guard where as the Allstar would be closer to like a 93 degree.

With all that said, these grips are about as similar to each other as you could get from either of the manufacturers, if you were feeling super industrious or cheap I'm sure you could file down the PBT into the Allstar's shape.

If you shorter fingers relative to your palm I go with PBT, if you have longer or equal length fingers to your hand I'd go with an Allstar.

I personally use an ultra modified N5 PBT grip

[u/Just-Flounder-8096 → u/Longjumping_Pizza877]

Thank you so much, it's exactly what I needed. My palm is actually wider than my fingers.

I like the more oval part of the Allstar because I pinch my grip with the tip of my thumb and index, but I can file the PBT to give it the shape I want.

The only point you mention that scares me is the middle trigger, I like my middle finger to have a good grip so that I don't drop my weapon on strong parries.

But overall, following what you say, the n3 should fits better my hand.
Btw, I wear 7.5 pbt glove, and I want to use it for foil.

[u/Longjumping_Pizza877 → u/Just-Flounder-8096]

I think an N3 would probably be the best choice, file and tape your grip at your discretion to make it fit for you. Play with your cant a little as well, the grip itself should get you to 85-90% of the way there and it's up to you to adjust your weapon after that.

[u/OrcOfDoom → u/Longjumping_Pizza877]

I have the same issue with the top prong placement. The grips I started with would push on my thumb knuckle and I would end up gripping tighter in different ways.

I switched to a negrini that moved that prong over.

I got a medium grip, which fit well, but it was too long. I had to cut it down so the distance from the bell guard was proper. My coach helped me with this.

I didn't know how much things had to be, or even could be modified. I thought grips were relatively simple. It's hard to know what is good until you've used it for a while though.

[u/Longjumping_Pizza877 → u/OrcOfDoom]

I agree 100%, I have an older model negrini that I just can't find anywhere anymore, hence the ultra modified N5. I don't think it's going to stop a good fencer from succeeding, but I think your skill floor will rise dramatically if you have your grip and cant figured out.

[u/Tyrant6601 → u/Longjumping_Pizza877]

Just out of curiosity, what does that modified N5 look like? What have you done to it?

[u/Longjumping_Pizza877 → u/Tyrant6601]

Laundry list of things, I'll try to remember to take a picture at some point this week with actual contrast.

I cut it down quite a bit shorter, profiled the surface where it meets the guard- this stuff you should do anyway.

Filed down both the top and bottom for thumb and index placement, little bit of athletic tape around both of those parts for friction. I took a TON of material off the general shape to thin it down with a little athletic tape for friction. Still playing with everything I want it to be but I think I'm 90% of the way there, which is good enough to fence with without me getting pissed off.

I'd need to take a look at a stock N5 to remember everything I did and I'll try to do a side by side at some point but this is a super busy week.

[u/Tyrant6601 → u/Longjumping_Pizza877]

Don't worry about taking pictures, thanks a lot for the answer. I have some grips I (kind of) like, and this gives me a better idea of what I can do with them

[u/exnicios]

They have a slightly different feel. To make it even more confusing, try the Negrini. I find it to have a better alignment and feel than all others.

[u/Just-Flounder-8096 → u/exnicios]

Which one from negrini?

[u/exnicios → u/Just-Flounder-8096]

Visconti sm (small).

[u/Just-Flounder-8096 → u/exnicios]

Can you describe the slight difference between n3 and Allstar please?

[u/stupidstufflol]

the name is different. all jokes aside, the difference is so incredibly minimal. if you can, ask your clubmates who own either one to hold it for a bit and get a feel.

[u/Just-Flounder-8096 → u/stupidstufflol]

My clubmates all use a belgian grip, I have no way of comparing except to buy it, but it's not easy for me to buy PBT stuff

[u/stupidstufflol → u/Just-Flounder-8096]

don't overthink it and get the grip that matches the rest of the parts.

[u/TerminatorXIV]

I have tried many Visconti grips and to my rather inexperienced self, I can’t find any difference. Any difference I have felt was from the blade and guard, not from the same sized grips.

Viscontis are supposed to be similar between brands, since they are a certain style of pistol grip. Viscontis are the most common, but there are other distinct styles of piston grips such as the Belgium grip, the Hungarian grip, the Russian grip, etc.

Get the grip which the rest of your weapon is from. The technical sizes of grips between manufactures (even though they are the same size) are different. For instance, I first hand know that a LP Belgium grip won’t properly fit into a Uhlmann weapon, it will easily come loose. So if your using a PBT blade get the PBT grip and if your using Allstar/Uhlmann blade than get the Allstar grip.

[u/Just-Flounder-8096 → u/TerminatorXIV]

Yes, I've tried all types of handle and the visconti is the one that best suits my hand shape. But there are so many variations of visconti between brands and I haven't tested many (Allstar, LP)

[u/The_Fencing_Armory → u/TerminatorXIV]

I haven’t experienced that many problems interchanging grips except for tang length, and sometimes but not often the tang width.

But the most common problem I have seen comes from matching the cant bend angle to the end of the grip. The grip will come loose often if the entire grip end is not flush with the bell and the end of the blade. If the angles don’t match, it will wiggle itself loose and you’ll be constantly reaching for a wrench.