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Originally Posted by Dmitry
Hello, Gene.
The quality of construction really doesn't really carry much weight in this case. As far as the stage props go, there is a number of recent references about actors being injured/ran through/maimed/have eyes gouged out/etc. with stage props.
A simple internet search produced these, all on the first two pages of Google -
Actor Injured in Sword Fight Rehearsal; Hartford Stage Cancels "Antony and Cleopatra" Performance
http://blogs.courant.com/curtain/201...d-fight-r.html
Actor in Samurai Film Injured by Sword on Set
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-...1_samurai-film
Actor injury causes delay for Mad Cow's 'Rashomon'
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...-theatre-delay
Actor Is Injured in Irish Production of ‘Hamlet’
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/20...ion-of-hamlet/
Those are all very recent cases, but I'm sure there are many others in the long history of the thespian arts.
Like this one -
Debutante Injured By Sword When Actor Falls
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=2854,4748674
Basically I really don't see any other purpose to having a rapier in the mid to late 1800s, other than for theater or to hang on the wall. It's hard to imagine anyone actually wearing one in the streets as part of a dress.
Just my $.02, which I suggest you take, cause this is what I have left after buying a new house just now. |
Hi Dmitry,
Thanks for taking the time to try and evidence your theory. I think it means that we can now at least discount the prop theory.
You have clearly searched quite hard for some supporting evidence and not found any that supports your theory, but you have found cases that illustrate the points that I've already made.
You seem to be drawing the wrong conclusion?
Firstly of course there have been MANY injuries caused in stage combat over the years. But you don't seem to have found any that fit the criteria of the weapon we are discussing.
It seems that your 'evidence' actually supports my reasoning and undermines your argument that a weapon of this fine and solid construction would be made specifically for theatre use, especially in the time period in question.
Of course the first problem as you have admitted is that these are mostly modern cases so of limited relevance. But lets have a look at them anyway.
To quote your sources:
"An actor filming a samurai drama was seriously injured in a battle scene when a real sword was accidentally substituted for a fake one"
-Confirming what I've been saying in previous posts.
"the accident occurred with the point of the dulled but real sword"
-As I have already said, real swords are not left with sharp edges or fine points. It would also of course be illogical to make a prop with a real blade that would be more costly (at the time) than simply buying a genuine item and grinding the edge/point off or replacing the blade with a 'stunt' suitable one, or making a prop with a stunt blade to emulate a real sword etc.
"The actor was injured while rehearsing a sword-fight scene when he landed incorrectly on his foot."
-Um did you read your sources Dmitry? This one is essentially not connected to the weapon, it was more a twisted ankle by the sounds of it.
"sustained a palpable and frightening hit during a performance on Monday, resulting in his hospitalization (edit) a cut beneath his eye and collapsed on stage"
-Blade/sword type not mentioned. Faces can be cut by blunt force, or really any 'hit'. We can't determine if the blade was 'real' or a fencing blade or an aluminium one, or a fibreglass one.
"An actors sword jostled from his hand as he fell" (Injuring a Debutante)
-Nothing there really, sounds (again) like it was a real sword being used on set and he dropped it to me?
As I've said all along Dmitry, was it made to hang on the wall?
Possibly, but I'm not convinced (for the reasons outlined previously)
Was it a theatre/film prop?
Well, I think your 2c was well spent as I think you've shown now that it wasn't.
As for not being able to imagine other uses for a rapier-esq sword in the 19thC, have you read Jim's thoughts?
Thanks for your time. Congrats on the new house.
Gene