four foot rapier blades ???

[fernando]

Excelent pictures; you sure have a steady wrist ... and a good camera .
All i took were from the (open air) cannon patio; one the largest bronze cannon collections out there. But cannons are not your music .

[ulfberth]

Here is such a rapier, I oput it next to a halberd so you can put things in perspective
The total length is 135 cm the blade without the angel 120 cm or 4 feet. The blade section is hollow ground, the maker is Antony PIccininni. The cup pierced as it the pommel all very fine and delicate work to save weight. This rapier can be handled from the wrist and feels just like a small sword.
Long rapiers are rare and very hard to find, lengths can vary from 110 to 145 cm total length.
Most rapiers are around 120 cm total length, all rapiers longer than 130 cm can be considered exceptionally long.
kind regards
Ulfberth

[urbanspaceman]

Hello Ulfberth.
You have the most magnificent specimen of rapier.
Contradict me if I am wrong Gentlemen, but I consider it a rare masterpiece, and I envy you Ulfberth.

[urbanspaceman]

It is hard to tell from the pictures, but you say the blade is hollow ground, do you mean it is of smallsword trefoil design?
Incidentally, the combination of swept hilt and cup seems quite unique to me; is it?

[ulfberth]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

It is hard to tell from the pictures, but you say the blade is hollow ground, do you mean it is of smallsword trefoil design?
Incidentally, the combination of swept hilt and cup seems quite unique to me; is it?

This type of guard is rare yes, there is a similar rapier in the Hermitage museum in ST Petersburg Russia.
Here is an example of what i mean by a hollow ground blade.

[ulfberth]

the one on the left is a ring rapier also 135 cm 4foot5,14 total lenght , after the ricasso the blade is af hexagonal section and in the middle it changes to diamond section. It does not feel top heavy at all , some long rapiers can feel top heavy, these were mostly in use for cavalry.

[urbanspaceman]

Truly fascinating.
As you will maybe know, I am very much a novice in the world of swords, having devoted exclusive attention to researching the story of Shotley Bridge.
So it is a rare treat to glimpse into such an amazing area of sword production and I am most grateful to you for this opportunity.
Thanks, and best wishes for '22.
Keith.

[ulfberth]

The one one the left a dish hilt with diamond section blade and a spatula tip to cut with is 145 cm total length that's 4 foot 9,9 .
the one next to it is 130 cm still longer than most rapiers.