As promised many moons ago, here’s my Armour Class [External Link] Pappenheimer – a type of late German rapier (I think).
Armour Class Pappenheimer
Rapiers are long swords. While mine is not as long as they get, it’s still the longest sword in my collection with a 93cm long blade. You may also note the “stopper” on the end. This is a fencing tip from Darkwood Armory [External Link] to ensure no stabbing accidents. The metal tip beneath is blunt but slim, so basic physics mean things could get nasty if it landed on target with enough force behind it.
Pappenheimer Hilt (1)
The rapier in general is considered an intermediate stage between longsword and smallsword. It’s also (usually) a stabbing weapon but it has the weight and length to make for some use in cutting. Based on my limited experience, it seems to be pretty much down to personal preference as to whether a modern-day swordsman bothers to cut at all or not.
This particular rapier is weighted in a way that encourages cuts and I’m looking forward to trying some (out-dated at the time of its actual use) longsword with it. If I ever have enough padding on to be happy about being hit! I could also do with stronger arm muscles as I can only hold this thing properly for about half an hour – which covers drilling and not much else.
Pappenheimer Hilt (2)
Visually, the Pappenheimer as a later form of rapier has a lot in common with a smallsword, as you can see from the hilt. The majority of the blacked metalwork you can see you can see in these hilt photos intended to protect the sword hand. You could even consider the pierced metal a precursor to the smallsword “shells”. [There’s a whole speech about improvements in metal quality in general and steel in particular over the last thousand years that fits in about here but I don’t do it half so well as my instructors, so I won’t.]