I just wanted to add that one of my favorite things about this rapier is the spiralled wire wrap grip. I simply love it, and it's so much more impressive in person. God, I need to buy one of these.

Hi Bill, hope you are well

I think judging from the responses that it's my general crapness in drawing technique that's the problem. The correct suspension I fully understand as mentioned above, and to answer your question 6ft tall. I think I may have a drawing issue, may need counselling to overcome this revelation . Despite my love of rapiers I think I may also have a general suspicion of longer blades - so much scope for the opponent to gain control of your foible - but then again I suppose that works both ways. There is a technical laziness which can occur from triangular cross-section smallswords also I think, and modern epees, where the strength of the foible and middle is just about sufficient that you don't need to 'correctly' defend with the forte necessarily - hence foil I guess. If I'm being completely batty it's because it's an ungodly hour over here and have been typing work emails all night. Time for sleep, methinks.

regards

Daniel