Castille Armory Late Renaissance Dueling Rapier c.1650-1750
A couple of years ago I was able to examine a matched set of mid to late 17th century dueling rapiers thanks to our good friend Antone Blair. Wickedly needle sharp from the last 12″ of the tip, these were light and balanced specifically for nimble tip work making these rapiers a joy to hold.
Our version is a deeply inspired simulator of the originals that can be considered the lightest sparring late renaissance rapier on the market today. At under 700 grams (like the originals), these move quickly and effortlessly without feeling the least bit floppy.
The 40″ blade which is sold separately HERE, boasts a narrow diamond distal taper with a very tall spine, thus making them rigid and robust enough to hold their own with conventionally weighted rapiers and side swords. While rigid, this blade is a true F3 flex and can parry with decent presence in spite of the light mass. *This blade is unlike any of our class of rapier blades as it mounts in front of the cup and tapers through the ricasso section to a second shoulder at the cross. It will not fit our conventional rapier guards.*
The guard is small but not uncomfortably so. The ricasso is still able to accept two fingers and the twist profile grip is our standard 3.5″ length. We offer 11″ quillons on this model to replicate the antiques of the period, which make binding easy and effective. There are two cup sizes to choose from. The 4.5″ diameter cup is 1.5″ deep and the 5″ diameter cup is 2-3/8″ deep. Both cup sizes have a rolled edge for burr and damage management and are made from 16 ga 1018 steel. We off a replica pommel of the original antiques that is also found on our Small sword. This small pommel puts the point of balance right at 2-3/4″ (7cm) with the Large Cup option.
The true value of this rapier is in its ability to help those with wrist, elbow or shoulder damage or those with disabilities to stay in the game. When you add the confidence in quality and reputation that Castille builds, it’s a game changer.
~Sam
