myArmoury.com - English Rapier from Dennis Graves

Posts: 101 Location: Central New Jersey

Sun 04 Feb, 2007 8:38 pm

English Rapier from Dennis Graves

I recenty recieved my new fencing rapier from Dennis Graves of No Quarter Arms. I had it designed strictly for later 17th century rapier techniques involving more dui tempi movements. The hilt is fire blued with a copper wire wrap on the grip.

Specs and measurements:

Weight - 1pound, 10 ounces
Overall Length - 48"
Blade Length - 41.5" including ricasso
Blade Width - 3/4" base tapering to 5/16"
Grip Length - 3 5/8"
Guard Width - 8"
Point of Balance - 3.5" from guard

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Bill Grandy

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Posts: 4,194 Location: Northern VA,USA

Sun 04 Feb, 2007 9:20 pm

Very nice, James! I really love the lines on that. Out of curiosity, does Dennis make his own blades, or is the blade of another manufacturer?

As an aside, I am also becoming quite fascinated with later rapier techniques... but I'm beginning to realize that there is far more "dui tempi" actions in earlier treatises as well. Hmmm... this may make for a good separate thread, come to think of it...

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Martin Wilkinson

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Posts: 155

Mon 05 Feb, 2007 4:27 am

That's absolutely gorgeous.

Congratulations on owning something so beautiful.

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Randall Moffett

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Posts: 2,121 Location: Northern Utah

Mon 05 Feb, 2007 5:56 am

I am not a rapier man myself but that is a very nice sword. I like the coloration he accomplished as well. It gives it a very subtle look. I hope it serves you well.

RPM

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James Holczer

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Posts: 101 Location: Central New Jersey

Mon 05 Feb, 2007 6:48 am

Bill Grandy wrote:

Very nice, James! I really love the lines on that. Out of curiosity, does Dennis make his own blades, or is the blade of another manufacturer?

As an aside, I am also becoming quite fascinated with later rapier techniques... but I'm beginning to realize that there is far more "dui tempi" actions in earlier treatises as well. Hmmm... this may make for a good separate thread, come to think of it...

Bill,

Dennis doesn't make his own blades. But he will use any blade you happen to have a preference for, or you can leave it up to him. The blade on this particular rapier is a zamarano that has been trimmed down and rebalanced. I was pleasantly surprised when I received this particular blade, most zamarano blades I've seen in the past could be a mixed bag in terms of balance and flexibility but the work Dennis did on this particular blade seems to have alleviated any of the performance problems. I guess the real test will be when I use it this week in class.

I agree, the use of "dui temp" actions in the earlier treatises would make a very interesting thread in the "off topic" forum.

Jim Holczer
Student - Umbs School of Fence / Martinez Academy of Arms

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Steve Grisetti

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Posts: 1,812 Location: Washington DC metro area, USA

Mon 05 Feb, 2007 6:03 pm

Congratulations, Jim. That is a beautiful sword. I love the contrast between the copper wire and the fire-blued hilt. The form and proportions of the hilt are very pretty, too!

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Nathan Robinson

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Posts: 11,553 Location: San Francisco

Mon 05 Feb, 2007 6:12 pm

This reminds of me a sword I photographed in 2003 for Mario Perez. It was also made by Denny Graves. Check it out.

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Steve Grisetti

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Posts: 1,812 Location: Washington DC metro area, USA

Mon 05 Feb, 2007 6:27 pm

Nathan Robinson wrote:

This reminds of me a sword I photographed in 2003 for Mario Perez. It was also made by Denny Graves. Check it out.

This 2003 piece is very pretty, too. I like the embellishments on the side rings, which I suppose might have been visually obscured, had this one also received the fire-bluing of Jim's example.

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James Holczer

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Posts: 101 Location: Central New Jersey

Mon 05 Feb, 2007 8:16 pm

Nathan Robinson wrote:

This reminds of me a sword I photographed in 2003 for Mario Perez. It was also made by Denny Graves. Check it out.

Can’t slide anything past you Nathan. That rapier served as the inspiration for mine. I remember seeing those photos awhile back. Couple those gorgeous pictures with the glowing endorsements Dennis gets from my fellow classmates and it was enough for me to make the decision to have a similar piece produced. To my knowledge Dennis has produced very few rapiers of this style as he usually specializes in Spanish cup hilts.

Jim Holczer
Student - Umbs School of Fence / Martinez Academy of Arms

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James Holczer

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Posts: 101 Location: Central New Jersey

Mon 05 Feb, 2007 8:29 pm

Steve Grisetti wrote:

Congratulations, Jim. That is a beautiful sword. I love the contrast between the copper wire and the fire-blued hilt. The form and proportions of the hilt are very pretty, too!

Thanks Steve, the contrast between the copper wire grip and the blued hilt came out even better than I anticipated. Now only if my limited fencing abilities could match the ascetics of the piece, I would be all set.

Jim Holczer
Student – Umbs School of Fence / Martinez Academy of Arms

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Jim Mearkle

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Posts: 113 Location: Colonie, NY

Thu 08 Feb, 2007 2:56 pm

I've noticed that prices aren't usually discussed (except for production pieces), but how do his prices compare to, say Darkwood? I may have found a new favorite cutler!

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