The rapier was the primary sword used in continental Europe during the late 16th through the 17th Centuries. Primarily built for thrusting, it was wielded in one hand, letting the fencer use their “off-hand” to hold another item for protection, such as a dagger, cloak, buckler, or baton.
It’s long, slender blade ranged between 38-45″ giving its wielder a long offensive reach. The rapier’s hilt or guard came in a variety of shapes and sizes, providing the fencer with much-needed hand protection as well as a sense of flair.
It was during the age of the rapier that the art of the duel began to flourish, and is the weapon found in swashbucklers such as The Three Musketeers and Captain Alatriste.
Classical fencing is a martial art that bridges the gap between the Napoleonic and Victorian dueling field and the modern sport fencing piste. Our program focuses on the dueling sword and Italian foil and the Italian dueling saber.
The dueling sword, or smallsword, is an incredibly light and maneuverable weapon with lightning-fast blade actions, explosive attacks, and dynamic blade exchanges.
The dueling saber is a slightly curved sword designed to cut and thrust. Classical fencing with the dueling saber is a robust system, giving practitioners a wide variety of techniques and tactics to utilize in combat. It’s the weapon wielded in classic swashbucklers such as The Mark of Zorro.
