Rapier comparisons

horseclover

horseclover

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Nov 21, 2000
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Period to modern. All credit to the original authors

Posted at SFI by Florian Fortner;

In our pursuit to manufacture our own "true to the original" rapiers, we have finally finished a report that compares period originals with modern reproductions. It is the first edition with 7 rapiers of the Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer in Vienna and 5 of the commonly used modern ones.

Under the following link you can download it:

http://historisches-fechten.at/wp-c...of_Period_Rapiers_to_Modern_Reproductions.pdf

Feedback is very welcome!
http://www.swordforum.com/forums/sh...n-of-period-rapiers-with-modern-reproductions

Cheers

GC

closet fop ;)
 
Thank you for this! I look forward to reading closely. It looks like very serious work.

Zieg
 
Good stuff, Horseclover!
 
I'm not sure if I have posted this link in the past but the article above draws some from the articles by Vincent Le Chevalier
http://blog.subcaelo.net/ensis/

One of the quite universal traits of period swords I have encountered is the mass distribution through an aggressive and non-linear distal taper. We see that disappearing during the 19th century, as mass production starts to be dictated by economics. Some, before that, as long lengths of uniform stock became more commonplace. Somewhat extraordinary to me is that one will find the same distal traits displayed between either slim epee or quite large sabers. Distal reducing by a third or more by the point of balance thenlittle until the percussive area, then some tapering to less than 1mm. A formula that seems tor reign quite broadly for five or six centuries. It really seems to be the XIVth century when we start to see this in western European swords. Whether influenced by more eastern cultures and their sabres is unclear to me but I don'tt see that in looking at middle eastern 18th century swords.

Cheers

GC
 
Thanks for passing this along. I have to admit I'm a bit surprised that the A&A example was significantly different then period originals, as I consider them pretty much the gold standard in modern semi-production products.
 
Great post, Glenn....I added it to my Documents library for reference....very refreshing and informative source of valuable information.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
My Grandfather was a Fencing instructor in England, and he had some authentic rapiers. People don't understand just how more truly deadly these were compared to larger swords. In the hands of someone like my Grandfather, they were blindingly fast. And they are also much stronger then they look. The only one he would let me play with as a kid was a early 19th century English made rapier that was similar to the Marco Danelli Basic Cup Rapier you have pictured. The two things I remember was the handle grip was made from sharks skin, and the blade was made from some kind of wannabe English Damascus steel, and was very strong and flexible. In fact being the dumb kid that I was, I decided to see if it could pierce the cinder block of the basement wall. It didn't, but it didn't hurt the blade either even though it flexed quite a bit.
 
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