With its graceful, artistic lines, the rapier has always been a romantic symbol of the Renaissance. The reality is that the rapier is a very deadly hand-to-hand combat weapon, perfectly suited for the swift moves of the duelists of the day.
The Deschaux Rapier features an unsharpened carbon steel blade. The grip is made of bone, while the guard and pommel are steel. Includes a leather scabbard with steel accents.
The rapier was the Renaissance swordsmith’s response to demand for a light, civilian weapon that could be used in tight alleys, urban streets and duels. Though commonly associated with nobles, the rapier was used by men of all classes. It is a blade design given almost wholly to thrusting attacks – ideal for tight spaces. Long and slender, the blade in conjunction with good thrusting technique had plenty of reach to keep the foe at bay. The thrusting attack, while creating wounds not as outwardly impressive as slashing weapons, were usually the more dangerous, and fatal of the two. Even a wound of a few inches was difficult to treat and critical organs lie not far beneath the skin.
These qualities further emphasized the swordsman’s need for timing and skillful strikes for little strength was needed to make a killing thrust to an unarmored enemy with the rapier – thus its contemporary swordsmanship schools emphasized these qualities. Rapier fighting however, was not just timing and distance control, for its manuals show ample evidence of more brutish grappling, kicking and hilt strikes.
This example, made by Windlass Steelcrafts, has a blade made of tempered 1095 high carbon steel with an oval cross section. The complex hilt of twisted metal fashionably protects the hand and matches the twisted wire inlaid into the similiarily twisted grip of horn. Lion and floral etchings adorn the thickened ricasso and the sword comes with a leather and steel accented scabbard.
This rapier can be stylistically paired with the Musketeer Main Gauche to create a matched sword and dagger set. Available separately (SKU 401348)
The musket, though the prime weapon of the French Musketeers, was a cumbersome firearm, both to load and fire. A good rapier was a necessary second weapon. The Musketeer rapier is fashioned after those circa 1590. The basket hilt is ambidextrous and a very effective mix of both the cup-hilt and swept-hilt styles. The grip is wood wrapped with twisted wire and the parts of the hilt are plated with gleaming nickel silver. The blade is made of well tempered high carbon steel. Includes a matching leather scabbard.
Please Note: This rapier has a metal collar around the ricasso that is often loose and it arrives in this state from the manufacturer. It is a separate component that does not affect the structural integrity of the sword as a whole.
A beautifully executed 17th Century rapier with a very complex hilt and faceted pommel. The grip is hand wound with silver plated wire with woven wire rings top and bottom. The hand forged, high carbon steel, fully tempered blade features a wide fuller to lighten and strengthen it for thrusting and the heavy ricasso provides extra strength to the main stress area. Top quality, genuine leather scabbard with deeply engraved floral pattern on the throat and tip. This type of sword was deadly effective as a dueling weapon.
This 17th Century Swept Hilt Rapier has a slender thrusting blade forged from C60 high carbon steel; the diamond cross section of the blade imparts some stiffness to the blade to ensure it can pierce with maximum effect. The swept hilt is crafted from mild steel and the grip is wood which has been tightly bound in steel wire. The base of the blade is overlaid in black leather for an improved grip when using the finger guards above the crossguard.
The wood-core scabbard is wrapped in fitted black leather and finished with a protective steel chape and locket.
This swept-hilt Rapier has a tempered blade of high carbon steel which is mounted into a steel swept hilt. The grip is wood with a wrap of braided steel wire. The shorter blade length on this rapier makes it an agile sword that is easy to wield and its bearer does not need to fight against the leverage incurred by a longer blade against the hand. Included with the sword is a leather scabbard with a steel chape and locket.
This Flemish Pappenheim Rapier has a blade forged from high carbon steel. It is fitted to a complex hilt of steel and a clamshell guard backed in red velvet. The hardwood grip is tightly bound in steel wire.
The scabbard is crafted from leather and fitted with a steel chape and locket.
This Cup-Hilt Rapier has a blade crafted from EN45 high carbon steel. The crossguard, knuckle bar and fluted cup hilt are of steel and the pommel is stainless steel. The grip is wood with a stitched leather wrap and a braided copper wire inlay. A thick leather tab atop the cup protects it from scratches when sheathed in the scabbard. This rapier has a large hilt which will better accommodate a larger-handed person than some of the smaller-hilted rapiers on the market.
Included with the rapier is a durable leather scabbard with a steel chape and locket.
According to most historians the Rapier first appeared on the sword scene in the late 14th century and held sway in most of Europe until the late 16th century except in Spain where it endured clear into the 18th century. The reason for its long reign as the civilian weapon of choice for self-defense and dueling can be tied to its two major advantages.
First its long, slim, double edged blade was ideal for delivering point oriented blows at a great distance while still being able to deliver a stinging cut. And secondly, its continually evolving hilt of rings, bars, quillions, shells, and eventually, an intricately chiseled cup offered excellent protection (especially now that the armored gauntlet had been abandoned) and shed, caught or deflected blows at the sword hand and forearm with great aplomb.
Sadly, while never proven ineffective or obsolete, the rapier eventually succumbed to the dictates of fashion and gave way to the emerging small sword. Happily Cold Steel has chosen to revive the Rapier with their own interpretation designed by Dave Baker. The long, narrow 1055 carbon steel blade is fully sharpened and beautifully polished with a single wide fuller at the forte to assure perfect balance. The hilt also reflects the best in craftsmanship and materials fashioned from stainless steel featuring a classic ribbed shell and multiple bars, quillions and knuckle bow for unparalleled hard protection. The grip itself is made of wood covered with rich black ray skin and decorative wire and terminates in a heavy ribbed pommel that serves as a counter balance to our Rapier’s long blade. Includes a leather scabbard with steel fittings.
This Pappenheimer Rapier has a transitional-style rapier blade that is forged from C60 high carbon steel; the wider blade allows it to be a good cutting sword in addition to a thrusting sword. The complex and protective Pappenheimer hilt is crafted from mild steel and its grip of wood is tightly bound in twisted steel wire.
The pierced shell guard is backed by red velvet and a small, black felt tab is fitted atop the guard to protect it from scratches when in contact with the scabbard.
This 17th Century Pappenheimer Rapier has a slender blade forged from C60 high carbon steel. It is fitted to a complex hilt of mild steel. The wood grip is bound in steel wire and the shell guard is backed with red velvet.
The companion scabbard of the sword is crafted from wood and is finished with a tightly fitted wrap of leather and a protective chape and locket of steel.
This Early 17th Century German Rapier has a piercing blade forged from C60 high carbon steel; the blade has a diamond cross section which gives it some stiffness to optimize its thrusting ability.
The swept hilt is crafted from mild steel and the wooden grip is tightly bound in spiralled brass wire interspaced with twisted steel wire. The wood scabbard is overlaid in black leather and fitted with a steel chape and locket.
