Thanks to Craig Johnson, Secretary of the Oakeshott Institute, Minneapolis MN, for presenting these and other original antique swords to the WMAW '02 convention in Racine, WI.
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This is an example of an English basket hilted sword of the mid to late 1500's. In spite of its wide blade, it is stunningly light! |
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"What a brave weapon is a short sharp light sword, to carry, to draw, to be nimble withal, to strike, to cut, to thrust both strong and quick." |
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This rapier from about 1600 is built for powerful thrusting. For the sake of strength the blade is rather thick. Even its numerous fullers cannot keep this blade from being noticeably less wieldy than the basket hilted sword shown above. |
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"[The foreign teacher's] weapons are most commonly too long to uncross without going back with the feet... |
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"... their weapons are most commonly too heavy both to defend and offend in due time, & by these two last causes many valiant men have lost their lives." |
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This rapier, also from about 1600, is lighter than the rapier shown above and is much more wieldy. Due to its fine, thin blade, it also appears far more breakable. |
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