In Portugal ...
Swords "off mark" (fora de marca) were those with more than 5 spans (palmos) with 43" full length, as per law published by King Dom Joćo III in 1539. It is known that swords with a longer length abounded; some where up to 7 spans (over 60"), a length that became famous in those days.
If you deduct the guard+pommel to this, you get your four foot.
(3 Rapiers courtesy Algredo Nobre; Dom Joćo III law collection Rainer Daehnhardt).
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Last edited by fernando; 21st November 2021 at 11:54 AM.
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