Owen
Moderator Emeritus
I fenced foil/epee for about 2 years, before I moved from SC.
Every few months, we would break from the modern sport fencing, and play with period stuff.
Going from the amazing fast foil, to a rapier was disgusting. Circular blade work was almost useless, because it was so slow, the opponent could see it coming.
Weapons are a product of their times. People began to realize that thrusting was much faster, and harder to defend against, but you still needed to defend yourself from street thugs with clubs, hand-and a half swords, pikes, etc, leading to a heavier than necessary blade for all thrusting work.
As everyone moved to the rapier, it made the small sword work for gentlemen.
CWL, the blade length for London was 42", IIRC
Every few months, we would break from the modern sport fencing, and play with period stuff.
Going from the amazing fast foil, to a rapier was disgusting. Circular blade work was almost useless, because it was so slow, the opponent could see it coming.
Weapons are a product of their times. People began to realize that thrusting was much faster, and harder to defend against, but you still needed to defend yourself from street thugs with clubs, hand-and a half swords, pikes, etc, leading to a heavier than necessary blade for all thrusting work.
As everyone moved to the rapier, it made the small sword work for gentlemen.
CWL, the blade length for London was 42", IIRC