Practice rapiers..

[Byron Doyle]

At the even Derek Wassom told me that some of the period piece rapiers that he had handled were in fact balanced right on the cross, with a few balanced even further back, into the grip. I don't know what period they are or who used them, but this seems to be a bit different from what Brian was saying. Perhaps they may have just been very customized for some particular person who liked the balance choked up like that (I know I tend to).

[Allen Johnson]

we got to make sure we define exactly what kind of 'rapiers' we are talking about. There is quite a large variety of blade shapes and hilt configurations that can change the point of balance dramatically.

[Brian Hunt]

Hi Allen,

agree with you there. Each of the historical rapiers that I got to handle at the antique arms show in Las Vegas were unique. A couple even had more of a cutting sword balance than what I like for a foyning balance. I like a foyning rapier that is balanced so that the point easily goes where I wish it to (much like a laser pointer easily points at things). I find if you get the balance too far back towards the hand, the point seems to 'jump' around too much and if you get it too far out the point feels like it kinda drags. I like it to 'rotate' near the point as I move the weapon so that the point easily stays online despite moving the weapon from 1st to 3rd or 4th. I find a balance point near that percentage I posted seems to do what I want, and it matches a large number of the balance point measurements I have read that historical rapiers have and the same with the ones I have been able to handle.

hope this makes sense.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Byron Doyle]

That's what I figured. I haven't looked enough into all the differences in rapiers to really know, just regurgitating information there. For what it's worth, however, I do like the balance just a little bit (2-4 cm) in front of the cross.