The Rapier - Plates from Capo Fero's 1610 Treatise

[Rod-Thornton]

I just finished reading John Clement's "spotlight" article on the Rapier (ref: http://www.thearma.org/spotlight.htm) and enjoyed it very much. I also just finished some forum posts that detailed some rapier play against modern sport fencing. In an effort to educate myself (being new) on proper use of the rapier, I perused Capo Fero's plates (ref: http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/NewManuals/CapoFerro/capoferro.htm) and noticed that of the 39 specific plates, a significant number show head/skull penetration endeavors. This seems to corroborate J. Clement's conclusion that the rapier tends to not be an instrument of delivery for immediately-incapacitating blows...even including the one plate of side entry through both lungs and the heart (the ideal bloodletter shot for any archer)...thus necessitating the head-shot to "switch off" an opponent. Without access to the member's only section (yet) I am wondering exactly what the other sources existing focus on....the head? The torso? And what of strategy? Annoyance pokes at body parts to irritate and expose the head? I don't know. Body mechanics seem to bring the head very low with a good thrust from the shoulder, in looking at the plates. That's a great strategy if you hit...a bad one if missed... Anyone tell me what strategies work and what other plates or sources I should be examining?

Too, I was wondering the best way to train with the rapier.

[Jaron Bernstein]

You might want to read the 60 pages of text before the illustrations in Capo Fero. It answers many of your questions and talks about range (misura), timing/positioning (tempo), movement and other nifty things. Of course it has also left me with more questions than answers, but that is ussually the case with this stuff for me. <img src="/forum/images/icons/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[Allen Johnson]

Welcome! I dont think any manual focuses on a particular body part to hit- just really what works well. The head and upper torso being the most lethal areas to strike and mortally wound someone. With the plates of the blade penatrating the back of the skull and going through the entire body I think that this certainly did happen- and often. However, even if a thrust does not plunge through the back of the head, any facial thrust is going to stop someone enough to finish them off with pretty much anything you want. Even a tiny thust to the eye or nose will cause someone tremendous pain and distraction (not to mention loss of vision from eye damage or tears - if you cant even pluck a nose hair without your eyes wattering up, imagine what a rapier thrust would do!) Same with body thrusts- even if the blade dosent go all the way through, several inches of steel into an organ will most likley end their day. I believe I recally John Clements telling us at a rapier workshop we had eralier in the year that evidence shows that all you need is about a 4 inch penetration into the body for it to be lethal. I hope I didnt mess that up - if I did I appoligize and would like to be corrected.
Below are a few of the other rapier manuals available here that clearly show similar 'target areas' as Capo Ferro. (btw- for a good book on Capo Ferro, check this out: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1853675806/qid=1123217218/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_1/102-2755613-8820910?v=glance&amp;s=books&amp;n=507846 )
To train with a rapier- you gotta get one first <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> While there has been lots of recent discussion on the subject of rapier simulators and the lack of blade stiffness that is present in the originals- despite that- there are alot of options for good weapons.
http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/ - would be a great choice. You can go really simple here or ask Scott for a custom made hilt. Either way you will be getting a really good weapon at a very nice price.
http://www.lutel.cz/index2e.htm - Lutel is a good choice as well- I've never handled their weapons, but I've been told they are great. They do have a waiting list though and you will have to deal with the exchange rate since they are a European company.
http://www.casiberia.com/cas/productsearch.asp?subsub=yes&amp;cat=Swords%20and%20Daggers&amp;subcat=Western&amp;subsubcat=Practical%20Series
CAS Ibera/Hanwei is a decent choice if you are a little tight on cash. I have one of their practical rapiers and have been pleased with it, given the amount I spent on it.
Im sure others will have some input as well.
Below are some other rapier manuals here that show more of the same stuff seen in Capo Ferro:
http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/NewManuals/Agrippa/agrippa.htm
http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/NewManuals/Alfieri/alfieri.htm
http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/Fabris/book1/fabris_book1.htm

[Risto Rautiainen]

Here are a couple of good articles on what is needed to stop your opponent with physical harm:

http://www.classicalfencing.com/articles/bloody.shtml
http://www.classicalfencing.com/articles/kill2.shtml

Base line is that not much is needed for a kill, but to kill immediately is another thing.

[JeffGentry]

Hey Gent's

I have been purusing Cappo for a couple(3-4) month's and it has got me thinking a little diffrent about the longsword, in the aspect of range and timing also closing and thrusting, I see a little longsword in the way they used there off hand.

Brian Hunt put how to guide up somewhere on making a rapier simulator from the fiber glass drive way stake's i don't know off hand where it is and have yet to do it I understand they are pretty good and only about 10 buck's to make.

Jeff