The name rapier is thought to have derived from the Spanish espada ropera, “sword of the robes.” It is possible the name has
French origins; a French document of 1474 references an epee rapiere. Either way, the term rapier was in common use
throughout Europe by the end of the 15th century. The rapier’s history, employment, and development is rich and detailed,
probably more so than any other bladed weapon in history. The rapier was, essentially, a courtly gentleman’s blade rather than a
soldier’s weapon. While the rapier design (small hilted, one handed weapon with a relatively thin blade) had been a popular
weapon prior to the advent of firearms, the development of firearms for combat use furthered the development of the rapier. Full
armor became a liability in the age of firearms; speed of movement became more important. Accordingly, weapons such as the
mace, war hammer, and two-handed swords which were designed to penetrate armor were rendered useless. In this new age of
combat, brawn was no longer the asset it once was; finesse and dexterity were paramount. The sword devolved from the primary
weapon of combat to a secondary one. Smaller bodied, less brawny individuals (as many of the landed classes and nobility were)
began developing the rapier and its use in sword fighting as a gentleman’s endeavor. During the first 100 years of its use as a
weapon the original rapier blades were 1.25 inches wide with sturdy, straight quillons (sides of the crossguard which protect the
hand). While the rapier blade remained relatively unchanged over the centuries, the weapon hilt changed considerably. To
protect the fingers during combat, the quillons were extended, a knuckle bow was added for further protection, and the quillons
grew curved bars which swept back over the hand, basket-style. Swept-hilt, basket-hilt, and cup-hilted rapiers became the most
popular styles of rapiers, although dozens of styles existed across Europe. Rapier combat developed to the use of an off-handed
dagger and small shields like the buckler, targe, and lantern for parrying the opponent’s weapon. As the art of rapier defencing, or
fencing for short, developed, the off-handed weapon and shields disappeared, leading into what we now think of as fencing. Rapier
combat was the most involved, most studied form of sword fighting to date in history; it has been called an art form.