Please help me identify the age and markings on this Rapier.

[ASPaulding]

Originally Posted by werecow

Not a connoisseur either, so maybe I'm way off, but given the active rust on the grip wire and missing turks heads knots or spacers, the blade being shorter than is common, the military markings on the blade, and the fact that the shoulders of the blade don't quite align with the guard, I'm guessing a composite with a smallsword or spadroon blade (a bit chunky for a smallsword maybe), cup hilt rapier guard and pommel, and recent replacement grip wire? Or maybe the grip just got wet recently and that's why the rust looks newer.

So we definitely think the blade is not a Rapier blade? I have heard of Transitional Rapiers that started to Evolve into a short sword.