Looking for a rapier identical to this one.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by kronckew

... p.s. - he makes ones much like yours as well

Thanks for the heads up Wayne, but i only pick real antique stuff ... with seppuku prices -
No practicing; only exhibiting them ... to myself .

[kronckew]

i like looking at old ones too.

i also like being able to poke holes in melons and milk jugs and slice them into paper thin slices with well made historical reproductions that i can stress without worry; and i can try stuff with them i would never try with one of my actual antiques. knowing how they handle is half the fun.

why get any modern 'tactical' sharp pointy things when the old styles are battle tested. they are also cheaper tho frequently more utilitarian and not up to the same level of craftsmanship and finesse. i also like to keep these traditional smithies funded to keep the skills alive as much as possible.

i recall seeing the sutton hoo horde with the relic weapons displayed with the reconstructed replicas. much more informative.

[Dmitry]

Just curious...why did you choose to buy a rapier that doesn't resemble a historical weapon, but is a "fantasy piece"?

[kronckew]

fantasy? it's not quite a klingon bat'leth or a hibben stainless steel construct.

i saw 'real' ones that were close enough to this one.

i could have had a more historical replica i guess, but the intent was not to have a passable 100% accurate fake copy of an existing period piece, but one close enough that still worked. the maker may have used a bit of artistic license. it is after all an interpretation in a 21st c. sword, not a 16th c one. at least it is hand made, forged and ground rather than a mass produced machine made one stamped out of sheet metal with plastic parts.

ultimately i chose that model because i liked it better than the others. the same as my greyhounds, who were chosen not because they were the best of breed, or the fastest racers or the best hunters, they were just good dogs and we suited each other. i enjoyed them in spite of people shouting at me that they were too skinny, or looked more like deer, or lost someone money when the had bet on them in a race. or even the ones that insisted they weren't real greyhounds. they were.

all-in-all, aren't all 'rapiers' a 'fantasy' weapon? what is a 'rapier'? this seems to be a broad made-up term for a broad class of long skinny bladed thrusting weapons with fanciful elaborate (or not so elaborate) guards, most of which were never called or considered 'rapiers' by their owners.

[Dmitry]

Fair enough. Just wanted to know your m.o.

Originally Posted by kronckew

what is a 'rapier'? this seems to be a broad made-up term for a broad class of long skinny bladed thrusting weapons with fanciful elaborate (or not so elaborate) guards, most of which were never called or considered 'rapiers' by their owners.

Well, a rapier in my interpretation is a thrusting sword with a straight blade of at least 90 cm., a hilt that offers more protection for a palm than a simple guard, and with a ricasso. I'm sure others' versions will vary.

[kronckew]

good. mine seems to fit the definition then. thanks.


as i don't want the current off topic discussion to detract from your original post, i've asked fernando via PM to move the discussion to a separate thread.

regards,

wayne

p.s. - i wound a bit of flat maroon 'shoelace' around the square section ricasso between the 1st ring guard and the crossbar to make it a bit more comfortable. probably should have used leather but don't have the leather. i can however 'macrame'.

i started learning the foil on an italian grip foil, so i'm used to putting my fingers over the crossbar and around the ricasso. i carried that over to the epee when in university where i was our epee team captain. it was impossible at that time to find a competition epee (electric) with an italian grip however. i probably could have tracked one down if i had the money to do it, but i was not a wealthy student.

i also have a pair of brown leather fencing gloves to match the harness that need a bit of breaking in.

[fernando]

I am sorry Wayne
You might have not noticed that presently i am not acting as a a moderator.
On the other hand, i don't think the ongoing conversation has lost its flavor and there are no strong reasons to split the thread.
We are all sportsmen here and i am sure Dmitry agrees with this.
Ah, by the way: none of my five cats has a pedigree ... but they are all cats alright

[Dmitry]

Originally Posted by kronckew

p.s. - i wound a bit of flat maroon 'shoelace' around the square section ricasso between the 1st ring guard and the crossbar to make it a bit more comfortable. probably should have used leather but don't have the leather. i can however 'macrame'.

You can get an old leather glove, cut off one of the fingers, and stitch it over the back of the ricasso. If I was playing with it, I'd also get some braided wire and put it in the recesses on the grip, drill small holes where they terminate, and secure the ends with tooth-picks. The hilt can be cold-blued on the cheap. That should go over well with the ladies.