Wide vs Narrow Rapier Blades. What's the Difference?
Рет қаралды 1,134
Today we take a look at two different styles of rapier blades that produce two different sword dynamics. The widths of rapier blades varied significantly, depending on which complex hilted, single-handed swords you include in the category of 'rapier'. Some are quite narrow at the ricasso -- the part of the blade that is not sharpened so that you can put your finger over the guard -- while others are significantly wider, more akin to a sidesword blade. Historically there are many examples of very similar hilts from the same time and place with seemingly very different blades.
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In today's video Dr. Nathan Clough takes a look at two of these swords, the French and Bavarian Rapiers, to think through how these different blade widths effect the use and performance of the swords.
As always, our swords are entirely made by us at our shop in Minneapolis, MN out of 6150 carbon steel, hardened and tempered to 50-52 Rockwell. Our swords and other weapons are made to look, feel, and function just like the historical originals on which they are based.
@Eulemunin 4 ай бұрын
Yay
@CollinClary 4 ай бұрын
Out of curiosity, is there any difference in the thickness and distal taper between your narrow and wide blades?
@armsarmorinc.4153 4 ай бұрын
I would say on average the wides maybe taper a bit more in the distal. But each is kind of unique so thats general.
@FiliiMartis 4 ай бұрын
You can start with a two inch wide blade at the base, and taper the profile quite fast to a quarter of an inch at the point of percussion. While the strong of the blade may be potentially better in the bind, it would make little difference when it comes to cutting. Naturally, you can’t expect the width at the tip to be larger than at the base (a rapier is not a bronze leaf-shape blade, or an estoc for boar hunting), so let’s think in reverse… What would be an optimal, or at least sufficient width at the point of percussion for a rapier blade to be deemed able to cut? Let’s say for a 44 inch long blade (I'm thinking someting for Capoferro rapier style). Is there an agreed value? Has anyone tried to determine that? Maybe a person who has access to all kind of rapiers cuz he makes them? ;) Knowing that you can trace it back and, near the base, widen the blade to some 1.4 inches to get a nice aesthetics look, a good bind in the strong, and a good weigh distribution (use fullers as needed). In my head, knowing the width at the point of percussion allows you to try different blade styles while preserving functionality.
@armsarmorinc.4153 4 ай бұрын
Interesting line of thought. What we have found is cutting tests like this are dependent on several variables and changing just one element like width at the point of percussion has less influence then the quality of the blow and the consistency of said blow is difficult to maintain to make comparisons meaningful.
@FiliiMartis 4 ай бұрын
@@armsarmorinc.4153 True! Technique does matter quite a lot. And I belive that the range of technique is influenced by the sword. So there's a fedback loop. And let's not forget about the fencing context, where the target doesn't want to cooperate. We would need to use a statistical approach in a multidimensional variable space, validate observations and talk about the uncertainty of the results... and who wants to do that. :) I would prefer to talk more about swords rather than make a nice hobby feel like office work. I was looking more for anecdotal evidence that arises from experience; you know, trick you guys into spilling the secrets of the trade ;). Actually, your answer does provide a good perspective: don't obsess too much about small variations in numbers and train more. And in the end, depending on the style that one wants to specialise in, they will go for a sword that is based on historical pieces (either an exact copy, or as an archetypal design).
@FiliiMartis 4 ай бұрын
@@armsarmorinc.4153 A bit related to the idea of numbers and experience... but on the business part of making swords. If I would make an order for a custom rapier, and start saying that I want a 44 inch long blade, 1.2 inch wide blade with fullers, a point of balance of 5 inches and less than 2.6 pounds in total weigh... would it be easy for you, based on your experience, to correct my expectations? You know, what I need to and should compromise on to get a proper functional sword out of the process. Or does it still involve a lot of considerations each time? I'm not looking for a free quote or something. I'm just a bit curious since I always think that what I want in my head and what I can get as a functional piece are two different things. Yet with added experience of handeling more and more swords, I'm getting better at reconciling the two. So would this ever translate into just knowing intuitively how to prioritize requirements to get the best outcome? E.g. you want a cutting centric rapier? then this, that and this are a must to get what you need.
@armsarmorinc.4153 4 ай бұрын
exactly, I will often ask the question of number crunching sword designers "Who would you rather face in a fight, an inexperienced sword fighter with the best sword ever made or the best sword fighter in the world armed with a stick?"
@armsarmorinc.4153 4 ай бұрын
hmmm good question, first off quotes are usually free as a rough estimate. The making of a sword is always a compromise between divergent elements. For the above envelope ofstarting specs I would say the main thing would be to take the gross dimensions and weight then start tweeeking to adjust finished COG. My guess off top of my head is tough to hit 5" with weight at 2.6 not impossible but it kind of pushes against the whole rapier concept.They have a tendency to run heavier and usually with narrower blades.
@HobieH3 4 ай бұрын
Stupid question: could you use a fuller to get width without a lot of extra weight, or would this sacrifice rigidity? I like fullers. Fullers are kewl. FULLERS RULE! Sorry (not sorry).
@gorbalsboy 4 ай бұрын
Sorry not sorry?okay sonny ,time for your bedtime 😢
@NathanClough-rt7hs 4 ай бұрын
Yep, that's one of the things a fuller does. However, in rapiers, I'd argue that the kinds of fullers that we see historically are mostly decorative. By the time rapiers came along the steel in the blades was pretty good, so it wasn't too difficult to have these long, narrow blades. The other thing that Fullers do is move material from the center of the blade closer to the edges, so that the edges have a less acute angle and are more durable. I would say we tend to see this more in earlier, wider, sword plates, in the case of Viking swords, and things like that it's part of the way they were constructed using iron and steel. on a rapier you really want there to be essentially no secondary bevel and a pretty acute edge, since the angle is already pretty steep on that geometry. Putting a big fuller into that narrow blade would really make the edge less effective if it was big enough to make a significant weight change.
@HobieH3 4 ай бұрын
It was pretty late and I'd had my sleepy time medicine.