Today was my kenjutsu dojo's annual tameshigiri day. I took my ArmArt S13 rapier along to test it as well.
In all, I was pretty impressed. I made about 30 cuts with it, on bamboo ranging from 1/2 to slightly over 1 inch diameter, and was able to make clean cuts when good technique was utilized. No damage was evident to the blade, nor was it unwieldy or slow to cut with, in spite of its 2lb 13 ounce weight. Would I want to cut with it as a PREFERRED tactic? no. does it cut like a sabre? no. would it cut well enough against an unarmored opponent to make them think twice? yes.
In the pictures below, note that the plane of the cut is quite good, but that the end of the bamboo is somewhat frayed throughout. This piece of bamboo is just over 1" in diameter. I am attributing the fraying of the end to the steeper edge angle of the rapier, rather than, say, my katana, or naginata, or cavalry sabre.
I just thought you all might be interested in some cut tests on an ArmArt blade - even if its not a cutter. It seems to me there has been very little cut results posted that I can recall.
All in all guys, I'm really rather impressed. It cut easier and more consistently than I had expected it would.
regards,
Chris
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