[Philip]

Jim, I would imagine that these bilbos outfitted for colonial service were also issued to garrisons in tropical areas where troops had to venture into rainforests, or sail up creeks in canoes and small boats. I can see the value of a more compact sword than a full-length rapier, not to mention one with a blade that has at least some cutting ability and enough mass to parry a native war club. The cup hilt itself presents issues as re convenient portability. Oakeshott rightly points out that this hilt, though an extremely efficient hand protector, is bulky when worn at the belt, and that very long, thrust-only blades aren't practical in a battle melee. Besides that, the scabbards are simply too fragile -- I have a Milanese cuphilt whose period sheath has survived, and imagine a stiff leather tube, tapering down to a skinny conical metal tip, that hugs the blade closely with no internal liner or stiffener (such as a wood or metal core) to reinforce it once the sword is out. No wonder that only a miniscule number of rapiers on the market and in collections have intact sheaths.