Extendable Rapiers

[Cathey]

hi Fernando,

I found this one today, which made me interested in find more examples and some history if possible. I think there was a post once with a museum that had several examples but I can't find it. I hope someone out there might have more information to share.

Cheers Cathey

[Dmitry]

This book is indispensable for all types of unusual weapons.

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[fernando]

Hi Cathey,
Currently i don't find any other post or thread in this forum on this subject ... although possibly they exist. But i guess i have seen other examples in different sources but, i don't remember where.
You mention their history. What angle of history would you expect to read about ... the need for these swords ?
Concerning mechanisms, i wonder if there are more than one; possibly. I didn't see how this specific one worked in the begining, when looking at the small unclear picture in the book, but now i think i got the correct idea:

,

[fernando]

Speaking of examples in museums, you have the following German rapier (1590-1600) in exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Overall L. 167.6 cm (66 in.)
George F. Harding Collection, 1982.2844.

The mechanism appears to be the same as the one in the collection of Rainer Daehnhardt.

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[Cathey]

Hi Dmitry

Thankyou for the referral to Kombinationswaffen des 15.-19. Jahrhunderts, I have managed to track down a copy and order it on line.

Fernando
I believe I have seen the mechanism you have illustrated before (like you somewhere but can't remember the source) where the blade extends through the hilt. I know I have seen an example somewhere that has the blade extending via a sheath at the hilt which I thought would be very fragile to use. Again can't remember where I saw this originally.

Cheers Cathey

[Cathey]

Hi Guys

Found a link to a sword forum site that mentions an example in the Leeds armoury.

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/sho...extending-Hilt

Cheers Cathey

[fernando]

I do subscribe sources stating that, the basic purpose of this wile was to fool inspection on the legal length. An actual measuring verification would potentialy only take place if the owner walking on the streets carried a sword visibly longer than allowed, at the eyes of authorities. On the other hand, their encumbrance while sheathed or in handling was a minor factor, comparing to the advantage of having a weapon with a longer reach, when dealing with less ethic street fencing. After all, full length 'off mark' swords abounded, despite royal restrictions and, those yes, were far easier to detect by the law, creating a bigger problem to conceal, when going out to use them.
Now, whether the mechanism/s of these extendable swords was/were solid enough to be reliable, is another story.

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