Pappenheimer (and rapiers in general) hilt length

10thRoyal · 14th April 2023, 07:13 PM

It seems like all of these pommels could moonlight as doorknobs.

Is that a feature of all Pappenheimers? Mine has the balance just in front of the guard with a 38 inch blade but the pommel still seems unwieldy for such a thin blade.

My next question is this: is there a description of what a Pappenheimer is from the 17th century? Or was this just a name applied by later academics to the style of this time period. If there is period references, what are the features they name? And what are the features accepted by modern academics of what a Pappenheimer is besides a "shell" style guard?

urbanspaceman · 14th April 2023, 09:15 PM

This is all I know but I'm sure someone will have more... probably Jim.

This style of rapier is named for Field Marshal Gottfried Heinrich Graf (count) zu Pappenheim, Imperial Cavalry commander.
A gilded pappenheimer rapier was carried by Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus when he was killed at the Battle of Lutzen in 1632 and is preserved in the Stockholm Royal Armouries.
Coincidentally, Field Marshal von Pappenheim was also killed in this battle.

14th April 2023, 09:15 PM	#2
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 577	History This is all I know but I'm sure someone will have more... probably Jim. This style of rapier is named for Field Marshal Gottfried Heinrich Graf (count) zu Pappenheim, Imperial Cavalry commander. A gilded pappenheimer rapier was carried by Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus when he was killed at the Battle of Lutzen in 1632 and is preserved in the Stockholm Royal Armouries. Coincidentally, Field Marshal von Pappenheim was also killed in this battle.

14th April 2023, 07:13 PM	#1
10thRoyal Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 79	It seems like all of these pommels could moonlight as doorknobs. Is that a feature of all Pappenheimers? Mine has the balance just in front of the guard with a 38 inch blade but the pommel still seems unwieldy for such a thin blade. My next question is this: is there a description of what a Pappenheimer is from the 17th century? Or was this just a name applied by later academics to the style of this time period. If there is period references, what are the features they name? And what are the features accepted by modern academics of what a Pappenheimer is besides a "shell" style guard?