[Austin Dixon]

I used to take foil fencing classes in college, and now I've found a new school and I'm starting to get back into it. I'd like to feel what practicing with the real thing feels like, so I'm looking to buy a vintage rapier or smallsword. I'm not concerned with finding a valuable collector's piece or a battle-ready blade. I just want something weighted right and built well enough to go through the motions with. Preferably it will also be pretty enough to hang in my office the rest of the time.

Unfortunately, the dealers I've seen online are way too expensive for my budget, so I'll have to search until I find an unusually good deal, which means I'm wading through fakes. I'm trying to teach myself the differences between cheap fakes, good reproductions, and real antiques, but I'm having a hard time with it.

For instance, this one looks vintage, but I'm guessing it's a modern reproduction that's been artificially aged. Am I right? Any advice or suggestions for me in my search?

[Dan P]

May I suggest, that almost any sword of the type you're looking for you find that is an authentic antique, and still in good enough condition to wave around and such, is going to be extremely expensive. Given your reasons for wanting a sword-

[Mark Griffin]

I use some Darkwood small sword fittings on converted Uhlmann blades for small sword work, you can barely tell the difference between ones you handle in collections. And thats something you need to do if you are considering getting and using something that 'real'. .

Don't forget that even with originals in these classes (and there is a LOT of difference between the feel, weight, heft etc of the two types you want) There is considerable variation of how they feel and work.

That sword you posted looks to be 'original' but a cheap presentation or costume sword, not that functional. Not my period but something like a cadet or very late stepping out item. I'd guess the A on the monogram stands for artillery, given the decoration.

But these types were made up until relatively recently, so when you say 'original' it means many things to many people.

[Sam Barris]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it in your position. The foil was never intended to approximate a real weapon, but to serve as a tool to teach and enforce good fencing habits. The sharp version of the epee is sometimes referred to as an epee du combat; it's very similar in handling to the sporting blade and was often used for dueling, but both the smallsword and rapier are very different and unique beasts which are probably best appreciated for their own merits rather than their superficial similarity to the foil.

You may wish to first expand your fencing repertoire to include the epee and saber, then use that as a basis for exploring more martially-focused pursuits like Hutton's saber manual or Angelo's smallsword treatise. In any event, just taking up the epee will be a huge step in the direction you seem to want to go, and can be done for a fraction of the cost. There are also heavier bated blades (like the schlager) that could give you the ability to fence safely with something more like a real sword. Here's an example.

I'm primarily an epeeist, so please understand that my opinion is extremely biased in that direction.

[Foong Chen Hong]

This guy made the best fencing sword with that price range in my opinion. http://regenyei.sg18.net/en_others_others.html

[Mark Moore]

Wow, Foong! This is a new one on me! Where did you find this maker? Don't mean to steal a thread here...but...Wow. Those are some nice looking swords!............McM

[Sam Barris]

There are also these guys. They offer a point d'arret, which is exceedingly rare.

[Foong Chen Hong]

[Glen A Cleeton]

Hi Austin

Welcome aboard

The sword you picture is the swords worn by the Grand Army of the Republic aka the GAR. A brief history linked.
http://suvcw.org/gar.htm

The sword id based on the US 1860 staff and staff corp for the federals during the American Civil War. A pdf file here on my pages.
Swords for Officers of the Staff and Staff Corps-v1i6.pdf

The US model was in turn copied from the French stylings. The 1860 model was a mainstay in the US Army until the m1902 sword for all officers was adopted.

There are a lot of sound old swords of this type at decent prices and worthwhile if thje type appeals more than modern reproductions. It is also then history in your hand. A very nice GAR with scabbard can usually be found less than $500 and without a scabbard in fair condition for less than you might think. The sword you picture should not list for more than $200. Check around for a GAR sword if that one appeals. They run less in cost than the US Army examples. There are. of course reproductions of this type you might find at less than $150. There is one you may see out there with a white plastic grip and listed as a Ulysses Grant presentation (for instance).

An old file of antique dealer links posted here. some links will be outdated but you get the idea. It should open in IE or another application.
Dealer hyperlinks.doc

I have even more bookmarked in an Ebay folder but a lot of that not very arms specific.

Lots of options out there.

Cheers

GC

[Sean Flynt]

if you're in the Birmingham area you might want to check with the local SCA group (barony of iron mountain?). they used to have a rapier sub-set that seemed interested in historical manuals and practices. i joined ARMA for a number of reasons, but the SCA guys gave me some useful information. i don't practice WMA anymore but i think there's an ARMA group in B'ham now. i'm sure somebody around here can give you a free taste of rapier fencing and show some weapon options. All i have are sharps.