repurposed rapier blades

urbanspaceman · 3rd January 2025, 09:36 PM

Well… so much for my theory!
I compared the Portuguese, rapier bladed, smallsword with a typical silver-hilted French hollow blade smallsword and surprise, surprise: both have 32" blades and both have a balance point at 4" from the shell; identical!
Admittedly, 32" is generally the maximum length for a small-sword, although colichemardes tend to be at least that, and often a little longer.
If you look carefully, you will see that the tang of the rapier blade has been reduced at the ricasso as well as being shortened at the foible, producing this balanced weight.
All together, I would imagine there is little to choose between the two as far as technique is concerned which would have been very satisfactory back then with all those rapier blades to choose from.
ps
Note the King's Head punzone on the ricasso.

3rd January 2025, 09:36 PM	#5
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 577	length and balance Well… so much for my theory! I compared the Portuguese, rapier bladed, smallsword with a typical silver-hilted French hollow blade smallsword and surprise, surprise: both have 32" blades and both have a balance point at 4" from the shell; identical! Admittedly, 32" is generally the maximum length for a small-sword, although colichemardes tend to be at least that, and often a little longer. If you look carefully, you will see that the tang of the rapier blade has been reduced at the ricasso as well as being shortened at the foible, producing this balanced weight. All together, I would imagine there is little to choose between the two as far as technique is concerned which would have been very satisfactory back then with all those rapier blades to choose from. ps Note the King's Head punzone on the ricasso. Attached Images