What are real rapiers like?
While it is difficult to make specific generalizations about any class of swords, and the rapier is no exception, there are certain attributes and qualities about them that I can offer comments on. Over the last few years Ive had the privilege and opportunity to have personally inspected about four or five dozen antique 16th & 17th century rapiers of various sizes, and Ive actually exercised with several specimens, and even test-cut with some. Ive paid particular attention in my research to the cross-sectional changes along their length, their stiffness (as much as was possible without actually bending them), and to their edge sharpness. Further, I have looked at these weapons from the perspective of a fighter, as a martial artist and fencer familiar with the historical ways and results of using them. I also own about a dozen different makes of historical reproduction swords, and have test-cut extensively with them on raw meat and other materials. So, I have good basis by which to comp
