Good day to all our readers! In previous articles we talked about swords and sabers.It's time to talk about how it has evolved a sword. Namely, the Rapier. And today, the note is devoted to how the sword became a rapier.

From a historical point of view, the rapier is a further development of the sword. But beneath this does not mean that it is a better weapon than a good old sword, but only what has changed methods of warfare. On the medieval battlefield sword would have been useless for combat operations of modern times it has proved itself very well.With a medieval sword, everything was done contrary to the battlefield since the Renaissance it was of little use.
It is characteristic that the tone of development in the field of knives set the improving and increasingly the use of firearms. From his bullets did not save even the best armor. Fast flying bullet could in most cases, penetrations. This led to what defensive armament was reduced. What to wear for yourself is the amount of iron, if it does not protect against firearms? Along with this were futile late medieval swords, conceived as a time to fight with steel armor. Swordsmanship changed, and edged weapons has become easier and more mobile. The rapier began its glorious journey.

1600 can be regarded as the date of the frontier in the development of weapons technology. Firearms are already widely used, and finally struck a "fatal blow" on the balance of the Middle Ages. Melee weapons was becoming easier, and has been designed for application thrusts. Regardless of this, it received broad specialization, division by rank and family of troops, as well as the target application. First of all, there was division in the military and civilian edged weapons, i.e. rapiers and epees.

The rapier was primarily a military weapon. In war, still continued to be an essential part of the armor (e.g. cuirass), especially a helmet. In addition, on the battlefield have met with many opponents. It required a heavy, wider blade, designed for both slashing and thrusting to strike. In British terminology, a rapier so called cut-and-thrust-sword.
In everyday civilian life, everything was different: there was a need to defend their honor in a duel, or to defend themselves against robbers - in both cases, opponents were usually without armor. Therefore preferred to a narrow blade of light, designed primarily for thrust - epee.

Contrary to what is happening in many films about the Musketeers, thin epee can be applied only injections, the effective cutting strokes to make it impossible. In addition, while epee to some extent been part of the costume of a gentleman. A heavy rapier to carry around all day not like anyone. Hilt of rapiers and epees did not differ from each other, so these two types of weapons are often confused with each other. As a border size can be considered the width of the blade measuring about three inches. And it can only be a rough estimate. In reality, transitions are nearly erased.

The difference between the epee and the rapier is thus "only" in the blade and the blade shape is an expression method of struggle. "The decisive factor of epee clearly was that she was more mobile and easier and makes it easier to move from defensive to offensive reception. After the blade had gone down by parrying a blow or was repelled to the side, it can be immediately brought into position. The epee allows you to immediately send back edge of the attacker. This, coupled with attacks realize the potential for a counterattack. It is this dynamic made narrower lightweight blade of epee in a duel without the use of armor effectiveness of a wide chopping blade, "- said on this occasion an expert in swordsmanship, John Clemens.