Posted by MK at 208.130.69.196 on October 09, 2000 at 16:35:47:
In Reply to: Well...Zorro's was sharpened on the edges, wuznit? posted by thx3188 on October 09, 2000 at 16:26:02:
Introduction
The rapier as we know it saw its heyday in the mid to late 16th C. and the early 17th C. Early manuals on rapier play were
more akin to broadsword fighting than the fencing that we know today.
The rapier evolved over some 200 years from the primarily cutting sword of the late 15th and early 16th Centuries into the
primarily thrusting sword of the mid to late 17th Century. It may even be surmised that the rapier developed into the smallsword
used during the 17th and 18th Centuries.
In order to understand the mechanics of why certain techniques were used in rapier play, it is prudent to study the form and
mechanics of the blades themselves.
A Study of Period Rapiers
The following is a brief overview of a number of blades that I have been able to document. Each of the small pictures here may
be clicked on to obtain a larger and more detailed jpg image. Weights dimensions and other general information is given for
each piece.
Recently I was able to go to the Royal Armouries in Leeds England and handle/measure rapiers. The results of this study may
be found here.