Rapier
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Wikipedia-Article "Rapier"
- This article is about the sword, after which a surface-to-air missile, prototype jet interceptor and fictional space fighter are named.
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Description
A rapier is a relatively slender (blade 2.5 centimetres or less in width), sharply pointed sword with a blade at least 90 centimetres in length, often sporting an elaborate hilt and hand-guard. For most of its period of use, the rapier was double-edged, some later rapiers were single-edged (with a sharply triangular blade) or edgeless. A rapier is capable of both cutting and thrusting attacks, but the thrust is the main attack in all rapier fighting styles.
The term refers to a variety of blade and hilt forms depending on who is writing and when. It can refer to earlier "spada da lato" (much like the "espada ropera") through the high rapier period of the 17th century through the smallsword and duelling swords, thus context is important in understanding what is meant by the word. (It should be noted that the term "sidesword", used among some modern historical martial arts reconstructionists, is a 21st century translation in English from the Italian "spada da lato" and is not referred to the slender, long rapier, but only to the early 16th century italian sword with a broader and shorter blade that is considered its ancestor).
History
The rapier began to develop around 1500 as the Spanish "espada ropera", or "dress sword". The espada ropera was a cut-and-thrust civilian weapon for self-defense and the duel, while earlier weapons were equally at home on the battlefield. Throughout the 16th century, however, a variety of new, single-handed civilian weapons were being developed, including the German "Rappier", another cut-and-thrust weapon used for sportive fencing, as described in Joachim Meyer's fechtbuch of 1570. Nevertheless, the English word "rapier" generally refers to a primarily thrusting weapon, developed by the year 1600 as a result of the geometrical theories of such masters as Camillo Agrippa and Ridolfo Capo Ferro.
The rapier became extremely fashionable throughout Europe with the wealthier classes, but was not without its detractors. Some people, such as George Silver, disapproved of its technical potential and the duelling use to which it was put.
By the year 1700 the rapier had been replaced by the lighter smallsword throughout most of Europe.
The etymology of the word "rapier" is uncertain. Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange uses the word "Rapparia" in 1484 to describe an espée in his ``Glossarium mediae et infimae Latinitatis``. He proposes that the origin of the word may stem from the greek "ραπίξειν", to cut. However, Walter William Skeat suggests that "rapiér" may derive from "raspiére", a poker, and that this may be a contemptuous term developed by older cut-and-thrust fencers for the new weapon.
 Bell guard, a Spanish fashion |
 Wire hilt, a German fashion |
 Wire hilt, a German fashion |
 Pappenheimer, a German innovation |
Present Day
This weapon is probably the oldest European sword that still has a living tradition.
The classical fencing tradition
Classical fencing schools can claim to have inherited aspects of rapier play in their systems.
Other Traditions
According to Maestros Andrea Lupo Sinclair and Ramon Martinez a direct linear rapier tradition has survived in Europe that is not connected with the classical tradition. They claim that the rapier was used in Italy and Spain as late as the first decade of the 1900s.
"Although teachers of these arts (rapier & Dagger) with living traditions are few and far between, they do exist" (M. Ramon Martinez).
This claim is disputed by some members of the US classical fencing community.
Popular Culture and Entertainment
The rapier is also the sword most often associated with duels of honour depicted in literature,e.g. the final scene in Hamlet, and films, such as The Three Musketeers -- however, such films are often far from authentic, so far as the fighting techniques shown go.
More information
For a more detailed explanation of the primary use of the rapier-- dueling-- see European dueling sword.
Rapier Instructors
Main article: Rapier Instructors
Many historical fencers around the world have benefitted from the work done by these individuals and there is a global revivial of historical fencing taking place from Australia to Finland.
External links
- For a thorough and somewhat technical discusion of the rapier see Characteristics of the Rapier by Chris Evans.
Schools
- The Martinez Academy of Arms, Maestro Ramon Martinez' school.
- The Order of Seven Hearts, A school for researching, practicing and teaching Italian martial arts from 1500 to 1900; especially dedicated to the work of Salvator Fabris. Founded by instructor and author Tommaso Leoni.
- Accademia di Scherma Tradizionale, the fencing school of Maestro Andrea Lupo Sinclair.
- Stoccata School of Defense, the fencing school of instructor and author Stephen Hand.
- The Tattershall School of Defence, A school teaching a variety of European martial traditions founded by instructor and author William Wilson.
Commercial Links
- Reliks Swords and Collectibles A variety of historically accurate Rapiers
- James the Just, blades and whole swords suitable for fencing use.
- Darkwood Armory Replica hilts and blades made-to-order, suitable for fencing use.