Looking for a rapier identical to this one.

[Chris Evans]

Fernando: Thanks for the cue

kronckew

Originally Posted by kronckew

question: how sharp would a rapier edge have been during their heyday? or would the be left dull, as the point was the more important?

I don't think that we can do any better than guess because if we see an unusually sharp antique rapier we would not know when it was so sharpened, and here we have to remember that even the end of the rapier era was over 300yrs ago, so a lot could have have been done to a sword in that time. And the bulk of the swords in collections are quite dull, but this may be no more than the work of the centuries

But given that rapier blades had little percussive effect, if they were expected to do any real cutting, they better be very sharp. I think that dueling sabres and schlagers offer us a decent clue because they fairly well replicate a slender bladed rapier, and these were kept extremely sharp.

Cheers
Chris
PS Nice replica rapier. How long is its blade?

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

...
PS Nice replica rapier. How long is its blade?

blade is 96 cm. measured from the forwardmost guard ring. grip adds another 30 cm. from there to the end of the pommel (excluding the peening). blade is 22 mm. wide at the maker's mark. weighs 1.15 kilos.

it's just long enough so i can actually pull it from the scabbard while wearing the belt/hanger. more importantly, i can also then put it back in.

ah, well back to the same old grind (). i don't intend to cut any targets, but i would like to have it in operational condition.

[Chris Evans]

Kronckew

Originally Posted by kronckew

ah, well back to the same old grind (). i don't intend to cut any targets, but i would like to have it in operational condition.

Just looking at the photo, it appears to me that the cross sectional geometry of the blade does not lend itself to any significant cutting, because the four facets of the blade would make for rather steep bevels. In such instances, the only real effect of sharpening is to facilitate penetration and discourage the seizure of the blade with a hand by an opponent.

But there's nothing to prevent one from "thinning" out the tip area of the blade so as to be able to apply tip cuts.

Cheers
Chris