THE RAPIER (AND DAGGER)
The term “rapier” describes a wide variety of swords used throughout Europe featuring a slender, long blade and a complex hilt. They were used with daggers, bucklers, shields, lanterns, capes, and as standalone weapons. While rapiers were used on the battlefield, they became extremely prolific as a dueling weapon.
RAPIER MYTHS
“Light Weight, Flimsy, Thrust-only”. These are some words you might associate with rapiers. While examples vary greatly, rapiers were actually very robustly build swords with a lot of the weight near the hilt. Their weight averaged out at around 2.2 lbs, which is heavier than some arming swords! By the time rapiers were making appearances in Europe, blade technology had improved greatly since the late Medieval period. Swords could be made longer without breaking, allowing the fencer greater reach. Rapier blades were often sharpened on both sides to allow for slashing, even if they were mostly a “point-driven” sword.
EVOLUTION
During the late Renaissance period, the longer and heavier rapier evolved into a much smaller sword that was easier to wear in everyday-life. The small sword (also known as the court sword), was a much shorter weapon, often with a blade that was triangular in shape and un-edged but pointed. This made many of the thrusting techniques from rapier manuscripts interchangeable with small swords, but lacked their cutting ability. Small swords saw their zenith of popularity in the 18th century and many were worn as deadly fashion accessories and status symbols.
OUR RAPIER CLASSES
We derive our source materials from Spanish and Italian manuscripts to bring students the most historically accurate course we can. Unlike Olympic-style fencing, we allow techniques that attack a wider range of targets while encouraging non-linear movement. We also include the use of the parrying dagger, buckler, and other off-hand items that were used by fencers of the renaissance-era. Like all of our historical combat classes, we employ a mixture of manuscript-learning and student free-play so that the true applications of these techniques can be honed out and discovered through action and not just theory.