Strange flamboyant blade rapier on ebay

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fearn

Gentlemen,

I really have to question whether it was functional. If you go back and look at the first picture posted, several things become apparent.

1. It's currently blunt

2. More importantly, the tip, because of the undulations, is not in line with the hilt or blade.

3. It's narrow,

4. It undulates widely,

5. It's thickest at the base, and thins towards the tip.

Now, basically a sword can chop, slice, or stab.

Can this one chop? Very badly. it's narrow, and it becomes smaller towards the tip. A good chopper would be wide and get wider towards the tip.

Can this one slice? A bit, but those waves are so big they'd probably decrease blade contact with the target (unlike, say, a saw). A good cutter would have a shape that brought a lot of edge into contact with the target.

Can it stab? Not well, because the tip's blunt, and even if the tip was sharp, it's not in a great line with the rest of the blade, Also, if you did stab someone, you'd have to push all those undulations (backed by air, not steel) into the wound. And pull them back out again.

Also, it's 51.5 inches in length, with a 41 inch blade, and it appears to be designed for single-handed use.

No, I can't agree that this was designed as a functional weapon. It's for display. Granted, it is sharp, but I'd hate to go into any fight with this thing.

F

Crossed posts Fearn! Just saw this outstanding summation concerning this blade, which seems to remain the key point of contention at this point. It does seem interesting that Spanish rapiers did seem to often be at 41" in length, again from many examples I have seen referenced. If I recall correctly rapiers of this length were at some time outlawed at this or any exceeding length, but cant recall details offhand. The note on its being blunt and unsharpened again goes to the visual rather than functional intent. The observation on the waved surface likely deflecting the cut seems logical in application, as the point of contact would in most cases be uneven. Again, it seems I've seen notes on this somewhere.

Good observations!

All the best,
Jim