Castille Armory Late Renaissance Dueling Rapier c.1650-1750
A couple of years ago Sam at Castille Armory was able to examine a matched set of mid to late 17th century dueling rapiers. Wickedly needle sharp from the last 12″ of the tip, these were light and balanced specifically for nimble tip work making these rapiers a joy to hold. Castille’s version that came from that study of period originals that can be considered the lightest sparring late renaissance rapier on the market today. At under 2 lbs (like the originals) with a 5 inch point of balance, these move quickly and effortlessly without feeling the least bit floppy.
The 40″ blade boasts a narrow diamond distal taper with a very tall spine, thus making them rigid and robust enough to hold their own with conventionally weighted rapiers and side swords. While rigid, this blade is a true F3 flex and can parry with decent presence in spite of the light mass.
The guard is compact but not uncomfortably so. The ricasso is still able to accept two fingers and the twist profile grip is our standard 3.5″ length. WThe 4.5″ diameter cup is 1.5″ deep and the 5″ diameter cup is 2-3/8″ deep. Both cup sizes have a rolled edge for burr and damage management and are made from 16 ga 1018 steel.
Although this is an excellent rapier for anyone, its lightweight and ease of use give it the rare ability to help those with wrist, elbow or shoulder damage or those with disabilities to stay in the game. When you add the confidence in quality and reputation that Castille builds, it’s a game changer.
Crossover SCA Rapier/C&T and HEMA Flex (F3)- Medium heavy stiffness, compliant to SCA Rapier and Cut & Thrust calibration. 1″ – 1.5″ drop @ 6 oz. (170 gr). Recommended flex for SCA Rapier and Cut & Thrust dual duty, WMA and HEMA armored combat.
Michael French –
One of the best handling rapiers at this price point. This one is designed to be lighter and nimbler than most sparring-grade rapiers on the market, which means your blade presence in the bind will suffer but your ability to parry and disengage will be better.
Note that the tip is blunt, but it is not spatulated so you must take extra care to blunten the tip before sparring. I initially used an olympic epee tip, but the blade stabbed through after the first few bouts. I now use castille’s proprietary tips with have a metal ring on the inside that prevents penetration.