Is a rapier a thrusting weapon?

The term rapier generally refers to a thrusting sword with a blade longer and thinner than that of the so-called side-sword but much heavier than the small sword, a lighter weapon that would follow in the 18th century and later, but the exact form of the blade and hilt often depends on who is writing and when.

Are rapiers sharp on the side?

The best answer I can give is that the true rapier is a long, narrow, rigid, nearly edgeless single-hand thrusting blade with a thick, tapering cross-section and very narrow and sharp point.

Are rapiers double edged?

Designed for cut-and-thrust fencing of progressively complex techniques, the rapier is characterized by a double-edged blade with an acute point and an elaborate guard for the hand. The guards, usually of iron or steel, were subject to a variety of embellishment.

What is the difference between a rapier and a sword?

Although the term rapier has become synonymous with any narrow-bladed sword (particularly those with fancy hilts), the term rapier actually applied to only a select few types of swords. Rapiers were narrow (usually one and a quarter inches wide), quite long, fairly heavy, and usually had only a slight edge on them.

What is a cut and thrust sword?

This 18th C. Cut and Thrust Sword is a somewhat middle-ground when comes to the evolution of the sword. It features the ornate hilt of later eras, but still possesses a blade that is considerably thicker than the smallsword or rapier.

What is the difference between a rapier and a cut and thrust?

Offering a middle ground between an arming sword and a rapier, cut and thrust swords feature Renaissance-style hilts with thicker blades than rapiers and a sharp taper. Various kinds of Renaissance swords, such as field swords and side swords, can be labeled cut and thrust blades.

What is the closest swords to modern day fencing foils?

These and the dueling swords are the rapiers closest to our modern day fencing foils and epees. Hollywood loves the small-swords; Errol Flynn, Zorro, and the Three Musketeers have all been depicted with some form of small-swords.