Rapier Questions

[Mavrick12]

For the past while now, I have been reading about Rapiers just for something different. I am interested with them now. My question is does anyone know of any Rapier that Can be had for $350 or a little more that is high quality and useable? (I dont have any idea as to what I'd use it for, its a stabbing sword and all but still) Looking cool is a plus. I know it seems kinda dumb and I should get a katana or whatever but its something different at least.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Mavrick

 

[hso]

Plenty out there, but let me first suggest to get together with some of the Arma folks and learn a little about it before plunking down any money on one.

Research on them is easiest at swordforum.com, but the best historical text on the use of the Rapier in fighting is probably Fabris's Lo Schermo, overo Scienza d�Arme (On fencing, or martial knowledge).

Look at any of the Paul Chen practical series for good entry level pieces.

 

[Slamfire]

Wish I could point you in the right direction, but I have not found the "right" rapier.

Purchased a Windlass Swept Hilt Rapier. Pictures looked good, but sword balance was way off. Blade was OK, taper good. Hilt way too heavy. Bars way too thick. Might as well have been thrusting with a sack of potatoes. Too heavy, too slow.

Purchased a Dark Sword Armory Cup hilt rapier. Balance good, blade sharp. Cup attachment cheap and unsubstantial. The problem that makes this sword worthless is a thin and weak extended tang. On original rapiers the forward extended tang is squared so you can wrap your finger around it, but it has just as much metal as the blade so it won’t bend. The Dark Sword rapier, they just ground the flat blade down. That tang will bend if much activity is put on it.

I have handled period rapiers. They were light and balanced. Replicas feel like golf clubs, or worse, mallets: heavy at the tip, or just heavy. I am not buying anymore rapiers unless I can have it in my hand.

 

[geim druth]

MyArmory: http://www.myarmoury.com/reviews.html ; has reviews of a number of swords.

What you get depends on what you want to do with a sword.

If you want to actually fence, you might start out with something that has a rapier hilt and a schlager blade. You can fence relatively safely against a partner while learning control of your weapon.

If you are going to do alot of striking against targets or pells, you will want a sturdy sword with a well-tempered blade.

If you want a display piece only, then the blade itself doesn't matter all that much, go with whatever strikes your fancy.

 

[Malice]

Meh... ARMA...

ARMA is... well, I don't quite know what to say about them.

A couple years ago I was watching the history channel and the group came up, along with the dude who runs it.

I looked them up and found out that they had a class at the Missouri City Hall rec place, which happens to be 15 mins from my house.

I took 2 sessions of classes with them.

My experience was pretty terrible. They seem to be serious, and their teachings may be legitimate, but be and my friend were treated very poorly by the instructors.

For example. The class requires a waster (a wood sword) which can be had from a few places for different prices. The instructor REQUIRED we buy one from a friend of his, as they were the very best and the only ones suitable for the type of intense stuff we were going to be doing. They just HAPPENED to be the most expensive ones anywhere, as well.

The next session of classes I take is about 3 weeks later, as he took breaks between classes. Busy guy I guess. I show up with the waster i had purchased and used in the last class, the one he demanded I buy. I show up and he FREAKS out at me.

What the hell are you doing here with this? Get rid of that piece of crap, and buy this other kind! Who told you to get your waster from THAT GUY?

Apparently he didn't recognize me from his class of 20, that ended 3 weeks ago.

Um, you did sir...

No apology, no nothing. Pompous


Your results might be better, it is probably worth a try. If you can manage to get them to treat you with decency, you might be able to learn a lot.

 

[geim druth]

hso mentioned swordforum.com and the European Historical Swordsmanship forum there is excellent. Lots of suggestions for books, videos, etc. The Practice Partner forum there might be usefull to you also.