Pictures of Rapier and Cut and Thrust

[Dan Sellars]

Hello,

I hope that this is an appropriate question to ask here, if not I am sorry.

I was wondring if you knew of any pitctures (photographs) that show the differnce between a Rapier and a Cut and Thrust sword?

I know that the Rapier is slightly longer and designed purely for thrusting but apart from that I don't really know how thay actually looked different.

Thanks,
Dan.

[SzabolcsWaldmann]

Cut-and-Thrust sword is not a historical name, it's a modern given one. And the name says it all. It is everything that is one-handed, and suitable for thrusting as well as cutting. A 13th century short sword is not in this family, of course. But Schiavonas, Arming swords from the 16th-17th century, some other bolognese swords, and all rapiers that have suitable cutting edges can be called cut-and-thrust sword.

Szab

[Dan Sellars]

Ah right thanks.

I guess I was wondering about the one handed swords that would have slowly given way to the Rapier. Am I correct in thinking that these weapons were also used with an off hand defensive weapon too?

Am I correct in thnking that the Rapier started to arrive on the scene from around the 1500's onwards?

Or am i getting hopelessly mixed up here?

Dan.

[Allen Johnson]

Rapier:
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=18&pos=2
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=18&pos=3
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=18&pos=7
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=18&pos=18

Cut & Thrust
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=5
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=18
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=36
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=33&pos=2
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=18&pos=106
http://www.myarmoury.com/albums/displayimage.php?album=18&pos=201

On a really basic level your rapiers are going to be longer and more thin in the blade that most cut & thrust. Many of the C & T swords have basket or half basket hilts. Look for wider blades when the hilts look similar to rapiers.

[Dan Sellars]

Thanks alot that's great.

[Allen Johnson]

no problem- C &amp; T's are great <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> Im particularly fond of my mortuary hilt. I really need a higher quality one.

[John_Clements]

See the huge article here on the site "Q&amp;A about Rapiers" under the Spotlight.

What is important to understand with the development of the rapier and the emergence of an essentially civilian style of foyning fence for unarmored single-combat, is that they were not simply new “thinner” versions of earlier wider swords. They were types that had different cross-sectional blades shapes. Differences in blade geometry—in thickness as well as width along its length—is an attribute of many kinds of swords. This variation is precisely how various sword types are stiffer or more resilient than another, may feel heavier or lighter in their hilt or blade, and can be more adept at either thrusting or cutting.

JC