[Vincent Le Chevalier]

Hello everyone!

Two weeks ago I received my new rapier from Darkwood Armory, and today I finally took the time to snap a few photos of it...

I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to rapiers, so this will not be a detailed review since I can't really compare it with anything. I ordered this sword as a practice weapon, that is, something that I will not be afraid to scratch, bend, and watch television casually with

I have two rapier manuals here, and I wanted something compatible with both. These are Girard Thibault's Académie de l'Espée and Tom Leoni's translation of Salvator Fabris' Lo Schermo, overo Scienza d'Arme. Thibault is a lot more specific than Fabris about the weapon, so it was my main reference here. Finally, given my stature, I went with a 42 inches bated rapier blade.

The biggest concern was the hilt. My artistic preference drives me to a swept hilt, but as discussed in this thread, there are doubts about the possibility of Thibault's moves with anything other than a half-hilt (due to the special hand position he advocates).

In a spirit of conciliation, I decided to order both So I chose a 3 ring swept I guard and a two-port cross guard I, according to Darkwood's terminology. Other details include acorn pommel, wire wrapping and straight quillons with three-lobed tips. I sticked with the standard finish as it was not meant to be ornemental at all.

I was very satisfied with the order process, and the sword arrived in good condition. The packaging did suffer a bit and was pierced by the quillons, but apparently they were more solid than whatever they met outside

I have been interested in the dynamic properties of the weapons for a long time now, and I was curious to know where my new rapier would land. Quite logically, it appears to be somewhere between my Milanese rapier from Arms&Armor (more a cut and thrust blade than a pure rapier) and my foils. Closer to the Milanese rapier, in fact. I don't have scales at home so I cannot give the weight with a decent precision. It is definitely lighter than the Milanese rapier and heavier than my boken, so I suspect it is around 1 kg. I'm not aware yet of any big modification caused by changing the hilt. The pivot point associated to the middle of the ricasso is close to the tip, giving a good tip control. The center of gravity is located 11cm at the front of the quillons, and the perceived blade mass is quite low. The pivot point associated to the back of the handle is a bit further away than on the Milanese rapier, giving a bit slower track in cutting motions. But that's to be expected given the length and purpose of the thing...

All this being a complicated way to say that it is not a cutting sword, but that you can hold it in extended guards easily, and that you control the tip perfectly... So I guess that's right for a rapier

The blade, as I said, is 42 inches, so 106.7cm, and the overall length, pommel to tip is 121cm. The quillons span is 25cm on both hilts. The blade is a bit more supple than what would be expected, I think, of a true weapon, but that does not really affect handling. Despite the blunt tip it is quite capable of piercing already, so if it was sharp, it would still definitely be a dangerous weapon...

Changing hilts is really easy, and once the pommel is screwed back the assembly is very tight. There are grinding marks on the hilts and blade, of course, but the finish is quite pleasant, which is just what I expected. And any sharp angles that could be dangerous for the hand were removed carefully.

This rapier already allows me to experiment with the various grips, and I have found that Thibault's grip can indeed be practiced with a swept hilt as seen in the photos below. I'm unsure however that it allows the full range of motion that Thibault uses, but I'll have to study it further...

The flat surfaces on the half hilt make me think that I could try do some engraving there; however, this is more of a long term project...

Overall, I'm very satisfied with my new acquisition

Regards

[Max von Bargen]

That's a beautiful sword, with two great hilts. Congratulations on your acquisition, and thanks for posting these great pictures!

Max

[Vincent Le Chevalier]

[Joe Fults]

Interesting getting two hilts for the blade.

Not something I'm sure I would have thought of.

[Vincent Le Chevalier]

[Patrick De Block]

Hi Vincent,

A few months before this thread, you started one on 'Thibault's grip and choosing a rapier's hilt'. Your artistic preference drove you to a swept hilt , but due to the special handposition Thibault advocates there were doubts as to the possibility of doing Thibault's moves with anything other than a half-hilt. As you had some time to experiment, would you mind telling me about your experiences with these two rapiers?

Thank you,

Patrick

[Vincent Le Chevalier]

Hi Patrick!

[Patrick De Block]

Hi Vincent,

Thank you for your quick answer. I haven't decided yet, but apart from sharps I might do exactly as you, two hilts and one training blunt blade. But of course I'm undecided since you can by a sharp and a blunt at Arms and Armor.

Patrick