Hi Jim,
thanks, sorry no cape or mask
.
My wife had bought the melon a few days ago, sat in the fruit bowl near to where I sit. I was thinking about the rapier blade being fully edged ....then looking at both..... thought .....' I wonder'.
The true point of the exercise was to demonstate, although I am not a skilled swordsman, the ease of its use. The blade has not been sharpened for a very long time, yet, it retains a reasonably 'keen' edge (suggests to me the quality of the steel). I think that the amount of training to use such a sword would be relatively easy for the average native swordsman.
I have also discovered, several martial arts, that originated in India, involve 'stick fencing'. They are centuries old (one dated to 200 AD) and not only require 'strikes' to your opponent ......but thrusts and jabs as well.
It would have been an easy transition from stick to 'rapier' blade. In Gatka, the Sikh martial art, sticks are used to learn the technique of swordplay.
Regards David