Smallsword is not a sword that is small; it is a technical term for a certain particularly evolved (or decadent, depending on your viewpoint) form of rapier (ie sword-hilted spear). The term seems to have come about as a counterpoint to terms like greatsword, longsword, broadsword. This is a smallsword, and without cross-checking my ruler for metric conversion, lenth sounds about typical (26 to 30+ inch blades). The cross-section of the blade may be of some interest, as there is a variety, including but not limitted to, hollow-triangular, flattened diamond, lenticular section, midribbed, etc. and often changes over the length of the weapon. The new forum doesn't let you reference thread pics while replying (just sayin'....), but it seems to me the ricassoe is small, perhaps even vestigial, and this seems like a late feature. This is exactly a fencing sword, but it is not a sport fencing sword; it is a deadly weapon, probably with a spring-tempered blade. The term fencing technically applies to defending the self, so I suppose any sword meant for parrying is a fencing sword, but this is the one of common usage; intended to be usable as a sole self-defence, though in practice often taught and used with a variety of mostly impromptu shields (cloak, lantern, dagger, stool, stick......). Weapons of this sort were often an item of fancy/formal dress, but were also worn for self-defence(or robbery, for that matter....) and used in duels. They were not considered ideal for a battlefield sword, but often found their way there at the sides of people who owned only one sword (and most owned none), or knew/preferred only the smallsword, or officers who may have used it as a pointer to direct their men, more than as a weapon. Most battlefield killing in European wars was done with shot and bullet by that time; statistics on sword and bayonet wounds are often very low.
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18th February 2005, 01:07 PM
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