4 Classic Windlass Rapiers
Feb 11, 2018 13:28:03 GMT
Post by Dave Kelly on Feb 11, 2018 13:28:03 GMT
4 CLASSIC WINDLASS RAPIERS
INTRODUCTION
Have a very bad habit, even now, to ritually cruise my favorite sword sellers every day. Paid off in 2017 with a burst of old Windlass classic rapiers. None of these are on the current market. The Pappenheim had been ressurected by Irongate, who had them for sale until early last year. The Brass Rapier is still available from Southern Sword, but only as a blunt trainer. The cup hilt was a surprise. Same form was resurrected as the Musketeer. More on that in the handling section.
BACKGROUND
I don't propose to give you a history of the rapier here. A V Norman covers about 275 years in his study. Buy a copy, if you can find it. I'm lucky enough to have one.
Long standing debate on the nature of rapiers as to whether their nature reflects a core change in military weaponry or they are primarily male civilian jewelry. Rubs both ways. There is a fine line between cut and thrust broadsword play and the thrust dominant rapier, whose heyday covered 1550-1685.
Public perception of the rapier has been corrupted by more familiar practice and character of the small sword/court sword. The court of Louis XIV embraced the smallsword in 1683. It was fast and highly maneuverable. Proponents discarded the main gauche as superfluous and concentrated on posture and speed.
In their heyday rapiers weighed in from 2.0-3.25 lbs. Elegant swept hilts could be weightlessly balanced with needle like foibles causing a slow and painful death. Larger cup hilts approached cut and thrust scale and were better cavalry weapons than afoot.
CHARACTERISTICS
Brass Swept Hilt: Strange sword. Second heaviest. The Ricasso is outside the guard. The sword thru midshaft is elliptical, meaning more strength. Even the foible is a healthy diamond grind. Blade is strong and stiff.
Main Gauche: Think this was originally from a Hanwei Rapier set, although it has the look of the Castillion Sword of Windlass.
Iron Swept Hilted Rapier: This has the slight build of the current Pilsen transitional rapier, but this is a traditional look for the rapier. The blade is the shortest in the group, as is the 2.2 lb weight the lightest.
Main Gauche: This is a Cold Steel Poinard from a transitional rapier. The fit and finish on the blade was poor, but I kept the poignard.
Cup Hilt: The longest and 2d thickest of the 4 blades. The blade is lean, with taper. The Cup plate and quillons are lean and elegant. The is surprisingly light. 2.3 lbs.
Main Gauche: This is in set with the Windlass Diavolo. A versatile and weighty dagger.
Pappenheim Named after the Holy Roman Empire cavalryman and field marshall who died at 38 y.o., with his rival, Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Lutzen, in 1632. Associated with Cuirassier units of the 30 Years War. The guard is thick and wide. The blade is close to broadsword in composition. 35x1.12 in. The blade is not terribly thick and the taper is less than 1mm over the length of the blade.
Main Gauche: The elegant Medici Dagger, is often seen with Germanic sets and is a good match to the sword.
HANDLING
Brass Swept Hilt: Of the four here, this has become my favorite. It has the best feel. It feels right holding it under or over the cross guard. The strong blade has the weight to burst through heavy clothing. The price for all the power is a sword that weighs 2.8 lbs; but the dynamic taper compensate well.
Iron Guard Swept Hilt: This is a fun to play with little bird. Very light handling. Very Light!. Fairly stiff and definitely well tempered. You can scare a small fencer with this one. Problem is in it's waspish lightness. The blade is weak; easily beaten off by the stronger blade.
Cup Hilt Rapier: I knew that these existed, courtesy of the sales catalogs, but never seen one. My first rapier buy was the newer version of this sword, referred to as the "Musketeer". A fantasy creation for an ahistoric French king's household troops who did not operate in the age of Louis XIII of France but did populate the mind of Alexandre Dumas.
The sword's dimensions are quite similar to those of the brass swept hilt rapier's. So is the dynamic taper. For me this is the second place choice of the lot.
Pappenheim Rapier: The hilt is large and pretty well executed for something based on a Deepeeka sword. The blade is inclined to broadsword scale without the proper weight and thickness. The result is a slow, hand heavy blade that doesn't really effectively serve point or cut.
This cries out for a better blade.
SUMMARY:
So there you have it. The first three swords are functional hits. I may not be personally inclined toward the iron swept hilt, but it is an effective and fun light rapier.
The Pappenheim is the only disappointment.
Watch your for sale adds. Never know what will turn up the day you dan't look.
;)
INTRODUCTION
Have a very bad habit, even now, to ritually cruise my favorite sword sellers every day. Paid off in 2017 with a burst of old Windlass classic rapiers. None of these are on the current market. The Pappenheim had been ressurected by Irongate, who had them for sale until early last year. The Brass Rapier is still available from Southern Sword, but only as a blunt trainer. The cup hilt was a surprise. Same form was resurrected as the Musketeer. More on that in the handling section.
BACKGROUND
I don't propose to give you a history of the rapier here. A V Norman covers about 275 years in his study. Buy a copy, if you can find it. I'm lucky enough to have one.
Long standing debate on the nature of rapiers as to whether their nature reflects a core change in military weaponry or they are primarily male civilian jewelry. Rubs both ways. There is a fine line between cut and thrust broadsword play and the thrust dominant rapier, whose heyday covered 1550-1685.
Public perception of the rapier has been corrupted by more familiar practice and character of the small sword/court sword. The court of Louis XIV embraced the smallsword in 1683. It was fast and highly maneuverable. Proponents discarded the main gauche as superfluous and concentrated on posture and speed.
In their heyday rapiers weighed in from 2.0-3.25 lbs. Elegant swept hilts could be weightlessly balanced with needle like foibles causing a slow and painful death. Larger cup hilts approached cut and thrust scale and were better cavalry weapons than afoot.
CHARACTERISTICS
Brass Swept Hilt: Strange sword. Second heaviest. The Ricasso is outside the guard. The sword thru midshaft is elliptical, meaning more strength. Even the foible is a healthy diamond grind. Blade is strong and stiff.
Main Gauche: Think this was originally from a Hanwei Rapier set, although it has the look of the Castillion Sword of Windlass.
Iron Swept Hilted Rapier: This has the slight build of the current Pilsen transitional rapier, but this is a traditional look for the rapier. The blade is the shortest in the group, as is the 2.2 lb weight the lightest.
Main Gauche: This is a Cold Steel Poinard from a transitional rapier. The fit and finish on the blade was poor, but I kept the poignard.
Cup Hilt: The longest and 2d thickest of the 4 blades. The blade is lean, with taper. The Cup plate and quillons are lean and elegant. The is surprisingly light. 2.3 lbs.
Main Gauche: This is in set with the Windlass Diavolo. A versatile and weighty dagger.
Pappenheim Named after the Holy Roman Empire cavalryman and field marshall who died at 38 y.o., with his rival, Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Lutzen, in 1632. Associated with Cuirassier units of the 30 Years War. The guard is thick and wide. The blade is close to broadsword in composition. 35x1.12 in. The blade is not terribly thick and the taper is less than 1mm over the length of the blade.
Main Gauche: The elegant Medici Dagger, is often seen with Germanic sets and is a good match to the sword.
HANDLING
Brass Swept Hilt: Of the four here, this has become my favorite. It has the best feel. It feels right holding it under or over the cross guard. The strong blade has the weight to burst through heavy clothing. The price for all the power is a sword that weighs 2.8 lbs; but the dynamic taper compensate well.
Iron Guard Swept Hilt: This is a fun to play with little bird. Very light handling. Very Light!. Fairly stiff and definitely well tempered. You can scare a small fencer with this one. Problem is in it's waspish lightness. The blade is weak; easily beaten off by the stronger blade.
Cup Hilt Rapier: I knew that these existed, courtesy of the sales catalogs, but never seen one. My first rapier buy was the newer version of this sword, referred to as the "Musketeer". A fantasy creation for an ahistoric French king's household troops who did not operate in the age of Louis XIII of France but did populate the mind of Alexandre Dumas.
The sword's dimensions are quite similar to those of the brass swept hilt rapier's. So is the dynamic taper. For me this is the second place choice of the lot.
Pappenheim Rapier: The hilt is large and pretty well executed for something based on a Deepeeka sword. The blade is inclined to broadsword scale without the proper weight and thickness. The result is a slow, hand heavy blade that doesn't really effectively serve point or cut.
This cries out for a better blade.
SUMMARY:
So there you have it. The first three swords are functional hits. I may not be personally inclined toward the iron swept hilt, but it is an effective and fun light rapier.
The Pappenheim is the only disappointment.
Watch your for sale adds. Never know what will turn up the day you dan't look.
;)
