What is a rapier. Sword: the noblest melee weapon. Were rapiers used against heavier medieval swords

The evolution of the knight's sword eventually led to its division into two areas of development, the broadsword, a long and heavy piercing and chopping weapon, fell into the first half. The rapier and sword became the second direction; at the time of its appearance, the combat sword did not even approximately resemble its elegant heirs from the 18-19 centuries. The main difference between a combat sword and a broadsword was in the weight and width of the blade, in addition, the broadsword was used mainly for chopping, while the sword was intended for stabbing.

But at the same time, one should not miss the fact that both the broadsword and the sword could both chop and stab. It was a long and narrow sword, the reason for its appearance was the presence plate armor and the appearance of joints and holes in them, where the narrow blade entered just fine. In addition, the sword, unlike the sword, gave the owner more opportunities in battle than heavier types of melee weapons. After its appearance, the sword took its place on the belt of the nobility and officer class for four centuries of almost uninterrupted wars.

The device of the sword

The sword, like other bladed weapons, consisted of two main parts: the blade and the hilt. The blade is straight and flat with double-sided sharpening with a fuller or two, gradually tapering to the point. The length of the blade was about 1 meter, but later it decreased to 700-800 mm.

The blade itself, in addition to being flat in cross section, could be square, rhombic or oval, the cutting edges in this case remained only at the point.

- This is a piercing weapon with a long faceted blade with ribs.

The weight of the sword was about 1.2-1.6 kg. Sometimes the question arises, how much did the musketeer's sword weigh? The answer to this question is in the museums of France. The sword of those times had a weight of about 1.5 kg.

The hilt of the sword consists of the following parts:

• the handle of the sword, usually made of wood and metal and has a braid or corrugation for a comfortable grip;
• crosshair, protective device at the transition between the blade and the hilt, straight or oblique;
• shackle, a protective device that protects the fingers of the hand, in the form of a strip of metal from the crosspiece to the pommel of the handle;
• the pommel, a metal apple that completes the handle, which serves for balancing, was made in the form of a metal ball or hat;
• the guard, the protection of the hand, consisted of protective rings with fastening to the crosshair, and shields or a developed basket made in the form of a solid or patterned metal strip that completely covered the hand.

The hilt of early samples was a conventional cross with a shackle, occasionally supplemented with a protective ring. A balancing apple was attached to the top of the handle.

Later hilts received a basket guard on top of a developed crosshair, and the number of arches increased to 2-3, or a continuous strip of figured shape covering the hand.

The handle could have a rounded, round or rectangular section, it was mounted on the blade shank and firmly fixed. The material for its upholstery was coda or fabric. Often the hilt of the sword was braided with metal wire in several rows.

Blade guards largely depended on the school of fencing, so the Spanish fencing masters preferred completely closed guards, while in fencing they worked with their hands from the forearm, the French school preferred light guards, since hand technique was more developed.

According to the modern Oushcott classification, guards are divided by the degree of closure of the hand into fractional quarters. According to the type of guard, types of swords are subdivided, which have pronounced properties that are characteristic only for this type of weapon:

• "Spanish" bowl, a deep bowl in front of the crosshair with a pair of rings inside it, in battle the sword is held by them, or by the hilt itself;
• bilbo, a more secure version of the "Spanish bowl", with an additional bow and a more voluminous bowl;
• papenheimer, a developed guard with a cup and protection of the hand in the form of a complex weaving of the temples;
• Flemish guard, in the form of a cross with rings or shields, without a bow;
• cavalry, the development of the Flemish, but with the presence of one or more arches covering the hand.

In the future, when the combat sword became a court decoration and ceremonial weapon, the hilts began to be decorated with precious stones, their weaving was a work of art. While the crosshair has almost completely disappeared.

The combat swords of this time were simplified samples with a small crosshair, bow and two shields to the right and left of the blade. On the apple could be located various kinds of decorations or awards. The total length of the sword depended on the master who forged it and on the owner's fencing school.

Features of the sword

With the spread of the sword, it was unequivocally accepted as a noble weapon. This was facilitated by both combat and specifications this type of melee weapon.

Unlike inexpensive broadswords and sabers, the soft metal of the blades, which could be compensated for by the weight and force of the blow, the sword is a weapon of technology and high-quality metal.

A thinner blade required elastic and hard steel.

In addition, the focus on the injection made the sword an even more demanding weapon in terms of production quality. For this reason, the sword became a hallmark of the nobility, the less financially well-off classes preferred cheaper sabers and swords.

In addition, possession of a sword also required certain skills that only warriors could have, which the nobles were originally.
After fencing became a science, national schools of possession of this weapon gradually began to develop.

In many ways, they depended on the characteristics of the guard and the blade. Italian swords, for example, are designed for stabbing, and practically do not use chopping and cutting, with a pull, blade strikes. Accordingly, the handles and hilts of Italian edged weapons are designed specifically for an injection; it is not particularly convenient to cut them.

Also of interest is the French school, also designed for thrusting, the French-type sword has a light guard of the Flemish or cavalry type and usually a faceted blade. Therefore, the swords of musketeers have a relatively short blade and an open guard.

The German school, on the contrary, uses a full range of strokes. Chopping, piercing and cutting, as well as stunning, with a flat blade. It was in the German principalities that the tactics of combat with a dagger for the second hand, the dag, appeared.

Distreza, the Spanish school of swordsmanship assumed a whole science, including the philosophy of sword fighting. But at the same time, unlike the developing French and Italian schools, it was more conservative.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that fencing is now becoming more and more history. But all his methods were transferred to sports fencing, the fastest and most dynamic sport.

It is also worth noting the military-historical fencing, which involves the use of products identical to combat models. Moreover, in childhood, everyone was sick of the adventures of Athos, Porthos and Aramis, after watching movies or reading books by Dumas.

Hence the musketeer cloaks, wooden sabers in childhood, and steel and aluminum blades in adulthood. It is worth noting that you should not use a sword or other edged weapons as a means of self-defense, it is illegal.

But the sword as a sign of honor and valor of an officer and a nobleman has already become a household item. "Sell your sword" - this phrase came from German mercenaries and means - to sell your knowledge and experience. To break a sword means to deprive of honor. So this outdated edged weapon entered our daily life.

Video

The Summer Olympic Games include various types of competitions. The program necessarily includes fencing. This is a sport that is included in the mandatory competition program of the high level. Participants can use different weapons. It can be a rapier, saber or sword. These types of weapons have a number of features.

You can hit an opponent with a thrust if applied sword and rapier. difference of these types of weapons is significant. Today, not only professional athletes are engaged in fencing. Many people prefer these types of activities to fitness training. To master the basics of fencing, you will need to understand the differences between sports weapons.

Historical facts

Sword, rapier, saber, differences (photo presented below) which are significant upon detailed examination, arose on the basis of ancient weapons. In the Middle Ages, they were used for personal protection, on the battlefield during military campaigns. Such weapons today are used exclusively in sports.

I - short and long sword.

II - rapier.

III - saber.

Even in the most ancient times, people picked up a stick to protect themselves. Stone Age left far behind. Weapons have undergone significant changes over time. Began to make tools from more durable materials. The most popular of these is iron.

One of the first combat weapons was the sword. The first mention of it is found in the II century BC. e. The weight of such a product was large. With its help it was possible to chop and stab. It was perfect for foot soldiers. But in the process of fighting on horseback, he was uncomfortable. The needs of the warriors eventually led to the emergence of other types of weapons.

Improvement process

The tactics of warfare of the past led to the need to improve weapons. In the 1st century AD, the saber began to be massively used by Asian tribes. Swords, rapiers (photo below) appeared much later. Prior to this, only weapons like sabers were used in combat. It was lighter than a sword. Such products made it possible to conduct not only foot, but also equestrian combat.

A few centuries later, a new weapon appeared in Europe. In the 15th century, swords and rapiers were made here. They were distinguished by a thin blade. Nobody has used this technology before. The need to make a thin blade arose due to mass use chain mail. A thin sword or rapier made it possible to penetrate between the cells of the underwear protection of the warriors.

Swords were made in Italy. The Spanish-made stabbing weapon was called the "rapier". The blow of the blade, piercing the edge of the enemy, with a high degree of probability was fatal. But with a cut, the opponent had a better chance of surviving.

Combat sword

Considering difference between a sword and a rapier (photo presented below), you need to start by studying military weapons. From it come the sports varieties used in sports fencing. The sword originated from the sword. This is a piercing weapon, capable of inflicting cutting wounds. Historically, such weapons had a length of more than 100 cm.

This product consists of a hilt and a blade. Its blade can be single or double sided. The hilt, which is also called the hilt, consists of a guard, as well as a special protective bow. This design prevents the opponent from hitting the fingers. Historically, there have been several varieties of the sword. The cavalry sword was distinguished by significant weight and a length of 100-150 cm.

One of the popular types is a weapon that was significantly lighter in weight. This is a "court" type of swords. It became an integral part of the attire of the courtiers. A few centuries later, the presented varieties began to differ greatly in design. Their blades were unsharpened. But the sharp tip made it easy to deliver a stabbing blow. They were popular among the revered representatives of the nobility of that time in Europe.

Sword for sports fencing

Differences in the sport of rapier and sword tangible enough. They determine the style and technique of the duel. Today it is predominantly a weapon used in sports tournaments.

The sword, which is used in competitions of the highest level, has a length of 1.1 m. The mass of such a product is invariably 0.77 kg. The blade web is flexible. It bends strongly during the application of a stabbing blow. The cross section of the blade is trihedral.

Grad round shape protects the hand from impact. Its diameter is 13.5 cm. Sports equipment has a blade that gradually tapers towards the top. The size of the edges, which is allowed by modern fencing, is 2.4 cm.

Participation in competitions

Universally recognized differences between a rapier and a sword in fencing. The weapon determines what technique the participants will use in the course of the battle, their tactics during the sporting event.

Tournaments are held separately for women and men. A special sensor is installed on the tip. When a piercing blow with a force of at least 0.55 kg is delivered, it fixes it. The injection can be applied to all parts of the body, except for the back of the head.

If the opponent hit faster (within 0.25 s), the device will take pressure on the sensor. There is no priority action in this competition category. If during the specified time interval the blow came from both opponents, they are awarded to both participants. This is one of the main features of the presented type of sports weapons.

Combat rapier

Having considered the issue, what is the difference between a sword and a rapier, a few words should be said about other types of historical weapons. Their main characteristics were finally determined at the end of the 15th century. The historical foil differs significantly from modern fencing equipment.

In translation, the rapier literally means "sword for clothes." It is a light, practical weapon. In ancient times, it was not worn by the military, but by wealthy citizens of Spain. She does not deal as much a chopping blow as a sword. However, her blades are sharpened.

It was a very popular weapon in the 15th-16th century. Later, rapiers were supplanted by short swords. The latter were distinguished by low weight, but in battle they were more effective.

The product, which was historically called a rapier, had a length of about 1.3 m. Its blade reached a length of about 1 m. There were many varieties of weapons presented. Historical warblades weighed more than modern sporting equipment.

Foil in sports fencing

Sports foil and sword differ in design and dimensions. Their cross section has a number of features. So, a sports rapier in cross section forms a tetrahedral figure. The weight of the equipment is about 0.5 kg. The castle is made of metal. It has a diameter of 12 cm.

The blade decreases in proportion to the tip. The tip is 6 mm in diameter. Equipment used for sports tournaments, the sensor is presented in the form of an electrocontact mobile device. It reacts to the blow that is inflicted on the opponent.

When the sensor comes into contact with the surface of the equipment, the signal is transmitted through the cable to the fixing device. The wire runs along the deepening of the edge of the blade. Under the hilt there is a connector. It has a wire connected to it. In the manufacture of a sports rapier, the shape of the handle can be curly. One of popular varieties the hilt is "pistol". The athlete in this case may not bend the wrist.

Foil fencing

Differences in fencing swords, rapiers, sabers significant. This must be taken into account when choosing the optimal type of sports equipment. Foil fencing tournaments are held separately for women and men. The sensor located on the tip of the blade responds to a pressure of 0.5 kg. Moreover, the blow will be fixed only if it is applied to the opponent's metal jacket.

There are certain rules for fighting with rapiers. The opponent's attack is parried before a counter action is taken. For this type of swordsmanship, the advantage of action is important. Priority is determined by the arbiter. It stops the fight if the device detects the inflicted stabbing blow.

In such a tournament, opponents are forbidden to touch each other with their bodies. The fight will also be stopped in the event that one of the opponents is behind the back of another participant in the competition. At high-level tournaments, video recording of the fight is carried out. This made it possible to avoid mistakes that the arbitrators could make.

Combat saber

Having considered the differences between a rapier and a sword, attention should be paid to such weapons as a saber. This is one of the most ancient weapons. Due to its features, the modern technology conducting sports combat.

The saber is a cutting weapon. His blade is curved. With the help of a saber, it is also possible to inflict a stabbing blow. For this, the tip was well sharpened by warriors before the upcoming battle.

The presented variety of weapons appeared in the eastern territories. Such products were widely used in the 7th-8th centuries. With its help, chopping and stabbing wounds were inflicted. Over time, the design has changed. By the 14th century, it was already an exclusively cutting blade, characterized by a significant curvature. The weight was relatively small. The center of gravity was shifted from the hilt. This made it possible to deliver blows of greater force.

Saber in fencing

Define differences between rapier, sword, saber in sports simply by knowing the features of each type of weapon. All presented equipment appeared on the basis of their historical ancestors. So, the saber is a chopping weapon, capable of inflicting piercing blows as well. In cross section, such a product has a trapezoidal shape. The length of the blade reaches 1.05 cm.

The castle is distinguished by a special design. She is able to protect the hand from below and from above. During the fight, you can strike only in the upper body. This also applies to the hands (up to the wrists), as well as the area of ​​the protective mask.

A special apparatus fixes the injection and impact. The clothes, which are located in the upper part of the swordsman's torso, have special silver shavings. Saber fencing is conducted with the right to advantage in attacks. The fight is dynamic, spectacular. This is what many fencers like about him.

Types of fencing

Entering into the question, what difference between sword and rapier exist in the modern world, it is necessary to consider the varieties of fencing. The duel can be not only sports. There is a historical and artistic type of combat. In this case, weapons should be selected in accordance with the characteristics of the duel.

The historical variety is used when it is necessary to recreate the battle of two people or their whole group. This takes into account the technique of conducting a duel of the selected period of time. Appropriate weapons are used. This fight is not spectacular. However, this allows you to recreate real movements rivals.

Artistic and sports duel

In artistic competition, it is also taken as a basis historical technique conducting combat. In this case, the fight is spectacular. All actions are staged. This is a show whose opponents are essentially partners. In this case, light weapons are used.

Sports fencing belongs to the category of combat when using lightweight weapons. In this case, there are certain rules for conducting a duel. The tournament is held on specially prepared grounds.

How to choose a weapon?

Knowing the difference between a sword and a rapier, a saber, you should consider several recommendations from experts on choosing the right weapon. Wanting to engage in fencing, a beginner attends classes and tries various combat techniques. In the first 3 months, the coach observes which type of weapon the fencer is more interested in.

When the choice is made, the process of honing the technique will take a lot of time. The chosen type of fencing must be loved. In the process of training, training equipment is used. Please note that it may differ from electronic varieties of swords, rapiers and sabers.

After studying all the intricacies of fighting on training equipment, the difference between such equipment and electronic products for the competition will not be felt by the athlete.

Having considered the features, differences between a sword and a rapier, as well as a saber, everyone will be able to choose the best weapon for sports training. Practice will help you make the right decision. Fencing is a fascinating, popular sport in our country.

At the beginning of the 16th century, France, and then other European countries, was seized by the "dueling fever" that raged on the continent for more than three centuries. In just a few decades of the reign of the French king Henry IV, duels led to the death of about ten thousand people, most of whom belonged to the nobility. The main weapon of dueling fights of that time was a sword.

Sword. The word itself is wrapped in a romantic halo. Saying it, you seem to be transported to the narrow streets of Paris or Seville into the world of arrogant and quick-tempered hidalgos and musketeers, so masterfully described in the brilliant books of Dumas and Arturo Perez-Reverte. Without a doubt, the sword is the most “noble” edged weapon, the defender of the honor of the nobility and the most faithful friend of the breter.

It is believed that the sword appeared around the middle of the 15th century in Spain. Very quickly, it became popular not only in the army, but also as a civilian weapon of nobles or just wealthy people. Over time, the sword has become an indispensable attribute of any man from the noble class, and fencing with swords has become a favorite pastime of the nobles. No wonder in different countries In Europe (including Russia), there was a custom of the so-called civil execution, during which a sword was broken over the head of the convict.

It was the sword that made a huge contribution to the development of fencing. Since dueling with swords was common, men from a young age learned to handle these weapons. Fencing lessons were common, they were taken by men of the different ages. In Europe, there was even a very specific institution - fencing brotherhoods. These associations of professional fencers had an extensive network of branches, experienced instructors and a special examination system.

Today epee fencing is an Olympic sport, although it must be admitted that sword fighting is very different from the fencing fights of the past. The same can be said about the design of a sports sword, which has little in common with the blades of musketeers.

The rapier is considered further development swords. Translated from Spanish, espada ropera literally means "sword for clothes", that is, a weapon worn with a civilian suit. In other words, the rapier was an exclusively civilian weapon, designed primarily for stabbing. Such a light version of the sword. In Russia, a rapier is often called a weapon with a faceted blade, intended for training fights. However, the main difference between a sword and a rapier is that the latter has never been a military weapon.

It should be said that there is a lot of confusion in this matter. IN historical sources the same weapon can be called both a sword and a rapier. A similar situation is also observed in popular literature (for example, in The Three Musketeers). Of course, the most common opinion is that a sword is a weapon that could be used to cut an enemy, and a rapier was only used to inflict injections. But, probably, contemporaries did not go into such subtleties too much, therefore, initially these names were synonyms, which subsequently led to noticeable confusion.

Description

A sword is a bladed piercing or piercing-cutting weapon with a narrow straight double-edged, single-edged or faceted blade and a complex guard. On average, the length of the blade was one meter, but there were also more "overall" specimens. Its section could be hexagonal, trihedral, oval, rhombic, concave. The weight of the weapon, as a rule, was about 1.5 kg.

The sword blade could have valleys or stiffeners. It ended with a shank, on which a sword handle with a bow and guard was mounted. Epee guards are striking in their elegance, complexity and variety, some of them had devices for capturing the opponent's blade. Currently, this part of the sword is used to classify this weapon.

In fact, a combat sword was a somewhat lightweight sword with a narrow and flexible blade, designed more for thrusting than for chopping. It should also be added that in the design of this weapon much attention is paid to protecting the fencer's hand. The evolution of the sword followed the path of its lightening and gradual transformation into an exclusively piercing weapon. In later swords, the blades could either be completely absent or not sharpened.

The classification of swords is based on the size of the blade of the weapon, its weight, as well as on the design features of the hilt. One of the most famous experts in European edged weapons, Ewart Oakeshott, divides swords into three large groups:

• Heavy combat swords (reitschwert - from the German "horseman's sword"), which could be used both for stabbing and cutting;
• A lighter sword (espada ropera - Spanish for “clothes sword”), which had blades, but due to its low weight, was not very suitable for chopping. This type of weapon was popular in the 16th century, and was later superseded by even lighter swords;
• The third type of weapon that received English title small sword ("small sword"). Similar swords appeared in the middle of the 17th century and were distinguished by a light faceted blade of small length.

History of the sword

The sword is further historical development sword. This statement does not mean at all that she is best weapon than the good old sword, just at the time of its appearance, it was more suitable for the changed conditions of warfare. On medieval battlefields, the sword would have been useless, but already in the Renaissance, it turned out to be a very effective fighting tool.

The sword can be called the same age as firearms. Moreover, the birth of this weapon is associated with the widespread use of rifles and artillery on the European battlefields. Today, there are several hypotheses regarding the causes of this weapon.

Some authors believe that the sword appeared in response to the further improvement of plate armor, which became practically invulnerable to chopping blows. Like, using a thin blade, it was possible to hit the enemy in heavy armor, inflicting piercing blows into their joints. In theory, this may look beautiful, but in reality it seems almost impossible. The so-called Maximilian armor had a degree of protection that was not inferior to modern spacesuits for deep diving. It is extremely problematic to hit an enemy protected by such armor in a real fight.

Another theory looks more plausible, according to which swords did not appear for piercing heavy armor, but because due to the advent of firearms, heavy armor was gradually becoming a thing of the past. There was no point in carrying an unthinkable amount of iron if it could not protect the fighter from a flying bullet. The heavy swords of the late Middle Ages were just designed to penetrate such armor; after the reduction of protective weapons, they also became unnecessary. At this moment, the sword began its triumphal march.

It should be said that the early heavy sword was not much different from the medieval sword, it was somewhat lighter and more elegant than it. Even the additional protection of the swordsman's hand could be found on swords of an earlier period. True, fencing technique, sharpened for stabbing, led to a change in the grip of the weapon. For more control forefinger lay down on the cross from above and needed additional protection. In addition, at the same time, plate metal gloves, which prevented the normal use of firearms, went out of use. So gradually the hilt of the sword turned into that complex structure, by which it can be unmistakably recognized among other bladed weapons.

It is believed that the first swords appeared in Spain around the middle of the 15th century. This weapon very quickly became popular among the noble class. Swords were lighter than swords, so they were more comfortable for everyday wear. This weapon was richly decorated to emphasize the status of the owner, but at the same time it did not lose its combat qualities at all. Already during this period there was a division into combat and civilian swords. The last variety by the end of the 15th century received its own name espadas roperas, which passed into other languages ​​and gave its own name to the new weapon - the rapier.

By the way, in most European languages ​​there is no term "sword". This weapon bore (and bears) the name "sword". IN Spanish espada, in French - épée, in English - sword, and only the Germans gave the sword its own name - Degen. Moreover, in German, Degen also means a dagger, which gave some researchers reason to believe it was he who was the predecessor of the sword.

The sword gradually spread to all branches of the army, finally displacing the sword. The 18th century can be called the heyday of this weapon, then it gradually began to be forced out of the army by broadswords and sabers.

Civilian swords were lighter and narrower than military weapons, often only their point was sharpened. At the end of the 17th century in France, a short civilian sword came into use, which, due to its light weight, made it possible to carry out virtuoso blade movements. This is how the French school of fencing appeared. At this time, the rapier and sword become almost indistinguishable from each other and completely lose their chopping function. The decrease in the mass of the sword was not only due to a decrease in its length and width, but also due to the fact that the blade became faceted. This is how a light civil sword appeared, which survived without any changes until the beginning of the 20th century.

The most popular were triangular blades, although there were samples with six sides. Initially, the blades were made wide at the handle, it is believed that this part of the sword was intended to parry the blows of the enemy. The classic narrow form of the sword was finally acquired by the era of the Napoleonic wars. We can say that from that moment the evolution of the sword is over.

It should also be said that the light civil sword became the prototype of the modern sports rapier, and the main techniques of sports fencing are based on the techniques of the French school.

The civilian sword was an extremely popular weapon. It was worn by the nobility, the bourgeoisie, the military in peacetime and even students. Wearing a sword was a privilege for them, students usually received swords after graduation, but there were exceptions. For example, students of Moscow University received the right to carry these weapons after entering the university.

German students not only enjoyed wearing swords, but also liked to use them in duels. Moreover, young men in Prussia were extremely proud of the scars received in such battles. Sometimes they were specially rubbed with gunpowder so that the mark remained for life.

In Russia, they also tried to equip archery units with swords, but this weapon did not take root. Later, it was massively used in parts of the new system, and Peter the Great armed the entire Russian infantry with swords. But then, among the rank and file, the sword was replaced by a half-saber. The sword was left only to the officer corps and guards musketeers. By their design, Russian swords were no different from their foreign counterparts.

In the 19th century, swords in the Russian army lose their significance as military weapons and are gradually replaced by sabers. However, officers continue to wear them out of formation, as dress weapons. Until 1917, the sword was the weapon of the generals and officers of the cuirassier regiments out of order, in addition, civil officials wear it as an element of full dress.

Fencing

The appearance of the sword gave a powerful impetus to the development of fencing. It cannot be said that before that they were cut with swords, as they had to, but it was the lightness of the sword that made it possible to significantly expand the arsenal of fencing techniques. Recognized fencing schools appeared very quickly: Italian, Spanish, French, German. Each of them had its own characteristics.

The Germans, for example, paid much attention to chopping blows, and as an auxiliary weapon they used a heavy pistol, the handle of which struck like a club.

In the Italian fencing school, for the first time, emphasis was placed on stabbing with a point. It was in Italy that the principle "to kill with a point, not with a blade" was born. As an additional weapon in a fight, a special dagger, a dagu, was often used. By the way, it is believed that duels appeared in Italy, replacing medieval jousting tournaments and fights.

The French school of fencing gave birth to a light short sword and gave the world the basic techniques for handling it. It is she who underlies modern sports fencing.

In England, during fights, a special shield-brass knuckles or dagu was often used.

The Spanish fencing school was called Destreza, which can be translated as "true art" or "skill". It was taught not only to fight with swords, but also to use such items as a cloak, a dagu, a small shield in battle. The Spaniards paid attention not only to the skills of handling weapons, but also to the moral development of a fighter, the philosophical aspects of military art.

Does the sport of fencing that exists today look like a real sword fight? There is an interesting statement that if a modern master of sports fencing got into the past, he would easily cope with any Renaissance sword master. Is it so?

The most important of the techniques of modern athletes is the lunge attack, which is almost completely absent in the old Italian and Spanish fencing schools. However, would it be useful in a real battle?

A lunge attack causes the fencer to stretch his stance. In this position, he is static, and it is difficult for him to defend himself against enemy attacks. In sports fencing, after an injection, the fight is stopped, which, of course, is impossible in a real fight. At the same time, a single injection absolutely does not guarantee victory over the enemy. In sports fencing, there are practically no defenses, fights are held according to the principle "whoever hits first gets the point." In a real battle, it is simply necessary to defend yourself, because a missed injection does not mean the loss of a point, but an injury, or even death.

Moreover, in the arsenal of historical fencing schools there were not only defenses with the blade, but also body movements: sharp rebounds, leaving the line of attack, and a sharp change in level. In modern fencing, stepping aside from the line of attack is a completely forbidden technique.

Now let's look at the weapons used by modern athletes and compare them with the swords of the old days. A modern sports sword is a flexible steel bar weighing 700-750 grams, the main task of this weapon in battle is to achieve a light touch on the opponent's body. The swords of the old masters could weigh up to 1.5 kg, with this weapon it was possible not only to stab, but also to chop, depriving the enemy, for example, of the hands.

Even the fencing stances described in ancient manuals are the opposite of modern ones.

There is another myth, it is associated with the opposition of European and Oriental fencing techniques. Here, they say, the Japanese are real virtuosos of possession of edged weapons, and the Europeans defeated their rivals in fights only due to physical strength and endurance.

This is not entirely true. The development of Japanese swordsmanship can be divided into two large stages: before the onset of the Edo era and after it. The early periods of the history of the Land of the Rising Sun were remembered for the almost incessant internecine wars in which warriors fought on the battlefield using long tachi swords and heavy armor. The fencing technique was very simple and corresponded to that used in medieval Europe.

After the advent of the Edo period, the situation changed dramatically. There is a rejection of heavy armor and long swords. new mass weapons becomes a katana, which leads to the emergence of a new fencing technique, complex and refined. Here you can draw direct analogies with Europe, where similar processes took place: a heavy combat sword was replaced by a sword. It was the appearance of this weapon that led to the emergence of very complex fencing schools, such as the Spanish Destreza, for example. Judging by the written sources that have come down to us, the European fencing systems were not much inferior to the Eastern ones. Although, of course, they had their own characteristics.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

Exciting sport

Fencing is a whole world, big and interesting. Entering it, you understand that you are completely absorbed by it and you can no longer part with it - and you stay with it forever.

It is considered art, sports, military science, education methods. Among other sports, it stands out for its aesthetics, richness of history going back thousands of years and romanticism.

Fencing is the skill of delivering thrusts, in certain moments combat, with the help of attacks and defenses, using their intellect. The duel here is similar to the battle: it has reconnaissance, maneuvering and camouflage, defense and offensive.

Weapon

Today in sports fencing, three types of weapons are used - a sword, a saber, a rapier. They differ in the rules of refereeing and the surface area of ​​the lesion, the variants of which can be seen below:

The weapon consists of a handle and a nut, a guard and a soft pad, and a blade with a tip.
The blade of the rapier has a tetrahedral section and is thinned towards the end, its length is up to 90 cm, the diameter of the guard is 9.5-12 cm. Its length in assembly does not exceed 110 cm, and its weight is not more than 500 g.

The rapier is a piercing weapon. Unlike any other type of weapon, the area of ​​destruction of the rapierist is the smallest - the neck and torso. There is a priority in the rules of fencing, it is also “tactical correctness”. To inject an injection, you need to have priority. For example, the athlete received priority in the attack. His opponent, first, must take the defense and only then does he have priority for inflicting a return injection on the opponent. If the attacks are performed simultaneously, the hits of both opponents are not counted.

A sword is also a stabbing sports weapon. The blade of the sword is more massive than that of the rapier and has a trihedral section. The total length of the sword does not exceed 110 cm, and the weight is 770 g. The guard has a diameter of 13.5 cm.

Epee fencers have the largest area of ​​damage for attacks: almost the entire area of ​​​​the body from head to toe - head, arms, legs, torso. In a sword fight there is no tactical correctness factor, that is, two simultaneous injections are counted to both opponents.

The saber is characterized by a trihedral blade, up to 88 cm long. The maximum length of the saber reaches 105 cm, and the weight is up to 500 g.

Rules

Saber fencers are allowed to inflict not only injections, but also chopping blows. The surface of the lesion is the torso to the line of the belt, head and arms. In saber fencing, too, the decisive factor for awarding a hit is "tactical correctness".

Today, fencing is carried out with the help of electronic equipment that records hits. The device shows a hit in an opponent, with the help of a light signal (the lamps different color). During a hit on the enemy, the light on the device lights up from his side. When fencing with sabers and rapiers, only injections that hit the surface of the lesion are counted. Counted hits are signaled by lamps - green and red, and not counted - white. Simultaneous signaling of a white and a colored indicator indicates that the first invalid hit has been scored, in which case the following valid hit will not be scored.

The sword (or rapier) is light and long, versatile, capable of chopping and stabbing, long-bladed. It is a sword with a narrow, rather flexible blade, up to 1 meter long, with a straight handle with a pommel, with a complex guard of the most various forms, which provided good protection brushes. Weighing up to 1.5 kilograms.

The sword is the same age as firearms. With the advent of the first guns and rifles, armor ceases to be relevant, and with them, a heavy sword that can cut through or pierce armor ceases to be relevant. Gradually, one-handed swords are being replaced by swords, this begins to happen in Spain in the middle of the 15th century. More precisely, in the 60s of the 15th century, the nobles began to wear blades that were somewhat narrower than combat swords and had a more complex guard - arches appeared to protect fingers, pas-dane rings (a ring on the side of the cross of a sword or dagger located perpendicular to the axis of the blade), etc. These swords quickly spread among the nobility and nobles: they were lighter than swords, which made it possible to carry them with you all the time; and they turned out to be “more beautiful” - the gradual abandonment of armor (in particular, plate gloves, which prevented the use of firearms), led to the fact that swords, to protect the hand, developed complex guards: baskets made of metal strips, cups, plates with crosshairs and finger arcs - these guards began to be decorated with gilding, stones, chasing, etc. And most importantly, swords made it possible to protect one’s life no worse than swords if necessary, they allowed them to successfully both attack and defend themselves in battle. Gradually, the sword spread to almost all branches of the military, displacing the sword. Until the 18th century, the combat sword was in service with both infantry and cavalry, until it began to be supplanted by the saber and broadsword. But it didn't completely disappear. Even at the time of its dawn, the sword was divided into combat and civil. Civilian swords were slightly lighter and narrower, often only sharpening near the point. Such swords were worn as weapons - despite the lightness, such a sword was just a weapon, and as a piece of clothing. The military wore them in peacetime instead of military weapons, nobles and bourgeois in full dress, some commoners. Even students had the right, and it can be said that the duty, to wear swords. Practically until the 20th century, swords remained a part of full dress for the nobles, not a military weapon for officers (in Russia until 1917, the sword was mandatory for cuirassier officers out of order, generals), for civilian officials during the parade (even officials of the Ministry of Education, Education , with ceremonial uniforms they wore swords), and weapons for duels. So, somewhere in the middle of the 19th century, the sword becomes a ceremonial, often award, dueling and sporting weapon.

The sword and its appearance gave a powerful impetus to the development of the art of long fencing. bladed weapons. I don’t want to say that before that they were cut with swords without training, as God puts on the soul, but it was the lightness of the sword that made it possible to invent the whole variety of fencing techniques. There are schools of fencing: Spanish, English, French, German and Italian, each of which had its own characteristics, and whose adherents argued whose school is better. Fencing textbooks are being written: for example, Ridolfo di Cappo Ferro "Gran Simulacro dell" arte e dell "uso della Scherma" ("The Great Image of the Art and Practice of Fencing") of 1610. In each country, fencing knowledge is systematized and supplemented with something new. For example, the first fencing systems in Germany and Spain focused on chopping techniques, and the principle of “killing with a point, not with a blade” appeared in Italy only in the middle of the 17th century and, gradually, it was the Italian school that became dominant. Fencing became fashionable, it was studied in prestigious educational institutions. In the reigning houses, and not only, there was a position of fencing master - fencing teacher. The sword becomes a sign of a noble person, a nobleman, a bourgeois, sometimes a commoner, a defender of a person’s honor in a duel (not only for men, but also for women), losing honor, a person was also deprived of a sword - it was simply broken over a person’s head. The production of swords was located in the same places as the production of other edged weapons. German Solingen, which produced world-famous models of edged weapons, English Sheffield, French Tyre, Spanish Toledo. The blades were forged, the metal handles and pommel were cast, the guards could be stamped or welded. But if in the manufacture of a sword it was enough to be a blacksmith, then a sword master should have been more versatile. Guards of swords, and then blades, were decorated with chasing and carved patterns, gilding, ink, set gems And so on.

So, directly the sword itself: a long relatively narrow blade, double-edged or having only a honed point; one-handed straight handle with a massive counterweight pommel; complex guard, well protecting the hand. By the way, it is the different guards that are the criterion for the classification of swords created by Eworth Oakeshott. He distinguishes: guards woven from strips or rods - baskets; guards-bowls in the form of a hollow hemisphere; dish-shaped guards - a slightly curved disc; loop guards - in the form of a simple arc protecting the fingers, and so on. Well, that's how it is.

Like almost any item that has been used for a long time, the sword has gone through a certain path of modification. Firstly, it concerned the blade - from a fairly wide double-edged, to a thin faceted, having only a sharp end. Secondly, it concerned the guard: from a simple cross with a finger arc, to an intricately woven basket or a solid bowl, and again to a simple small disk. Historically, many researchers, Oakeshott, for example, divides swords into three types:
- reitschwert (literally "horseman's sword") - a heavy sword suitable for chopping blows - it is she who is called the "combat sword". Appearing in the 15th century, this type of sword was the most popular in the cavalry of the 16th century, but from the 17th century it began to be replaced by sabers and broadswords. Although in some countries, Russia, Sweden, it was used both in the cavalry and in the infantry in the 18th century.
- espada ropera (literally "sword for clothes") - designed to be worn with civilian clothes, a little lighter and narrower than a combat sword, but with double-sided sharpening. This type of sword was most popular in the 16th century, but from the middle of the 17th century it began to be replaced by even lighter swords.
- smallsword (literally "small sword") - was an even lighter version of the sword with a shortened blade. Appearing in the middle of the 17th century under the influence of the French fencing school at the end of the 16th century, it subsequently practically replaced other types of swords. It was this type that became an exclusively piercing type of swords, even with a blade it was inconvenient for them to cut due to their low weight. Most of these swords had a faceted hexagonal blade, which was replaced by a trihedral section with valleys, which can still be seen on a sports sword. By the way, the lightness of this type of sword made it possible to “painlessly” lengthen the blade and swords of almost one and a half meters in length appeared.

Well, now directly the second part of the topic: “A sword or a rapier?”

To begin with, a quote from The Three Musketeers: "... Athos escaped when he saw Kayuzak's sword fly off twenty steps. D" Artagnan and Kayuzak simultaneously rushed after her: one - to return it to themselves, the other - to take possession her. D "Artagnan, more agile, ran first and stepped on the blade with his foot. Kayuzak rushed to the guardsman, whom Aramis killed, grabbed his rapier and was about to return to d" Artagnan, but along the way he ran into Athos, who managed to take a breath in these short moments. .." So, judging by the text, albeit artistic, in one place, at one time and, practically, with the same type of troops, there are two types of weapons, judging by the name. Kayuzak loses his sword, but raises a rapier. What is it, mistake of the author or translator? Or people from the same branch of the military have different weapons? Are swords and rapiers different? Let's try to figure this out. The most common opinion is that a sword is a weapon that can cut and stab, a rapier is only a piercing weapon. The modern swordsman, without hesitation, will answer in the same way. A four-sided rapier in cross section, without pronounced cutting edges, which only piercing blows are allowed, and a sword, which has a flat triangle in cross section, with a hint of sharp edges that make it possible to accentuate a chopping blow. But this is a sporting weapon. What about old weapons? If we turn to literature, artistic and scientific, we will see descriptions of chopping blows with a rapier or only the piercing technique of working with a sword. Sometimes a rapier is described as something double-edged and wide, and a sword as something narrow, only with a sharp end. Again inconsistencies.

To understand, you need to look into the . More precisely, the first name of the sword. In Spain, in the 15th century, "espadas roperas" - "a sword for clothes" appears. Many researchers in the translation of this name make two mistakes: they translate "espadas roperas" either as "a sword for civilian clothes"; or translated as "sword for clothes." For example, such a translation is given by John Clemments, well-known in the circles of historical swordsmen. And, based on this inaccurate translation, incorrect conclusions are being drawn regarding the sword and rapier. But the word "espadas" comes from the Latin "spata" - a sword, the so-called long cavalry sword ancient rome. And “for clothes” means “clothing, not armor”, and not civilian clothing, since the concept of “civilian clothing” did not yet exist. Reading carefully “espadas roperas”, it is easy to see that the words “sword” and “rapier” are two parts of this name: "espadas" - a sword, "roperas" - a rapier. In many languages, these two names simply do not exist: in Spanish, all the weapons described above are called "espada"; in Italian - "spada"; in French - "epee"; the British use the word "sword" - a sword: court sword - a court sword, town sword - a city sword, scarf sword - a sword for a sash, small sword - a small sword, to designate a sword in relation to more massive English swords; in German, the word "degen" refers to everything that we used to call a sword or a rapier. In practice, only in Russian these two names are used, in other languages ​​only one is used: either "rapier" or "sword". Yes, and these names are prefabricated, among swords or rapiers there are also proper names - Papperheimer and Walloon sword, for example, comishelard - a type of sword in which 1/3 of the blade was much wider than the other 2/3. Even if these conclusions based on the analysis of the names are erroneous, it is very difficult to argue with the collections of museums that store exhibits with similar, clearly piercing-cutting blades, different only in the form of guards, but sometimes called swords, sometimes rapiers. At the same time, they were made in different countries and at different times, and for weapons, their changes and development, and 20 years is a lot.

In the photo with various guards, all four types of weapons are called rapiers, despite the fact that only the 3rd and 4th blades can be called piercing, and the first two blades are pronounced chopping. Strange, right?

Here are five types of blades: two sharp cuts, one something in between, and two thin piercing ones. But they are all called rapiers.

So, we can safely make the assumption that piercing-chopping light swords that appeared in Spain in the 15th century, which later differed only in the device of the guard and the length of the blade, can be called both a sword and a rapier at the same time, and not be mistaken. Because, initially, a sword and a rapier are one and the same. And it is possible that the name of the rapier was the first. And the confusion arose already later, when at the same time the “old” chopping-stabbing swords-rapiers and the “new” exclusively piercing swords-rapiers began to exist. Later, these names were fixed for sports weapons in order to emphasize the differences in the structure and principle of operation of sports swords and rapiers. The most interesting thing is that it is rather difficult to prove or disprove my conclusions based on the works of gunsmiths, which is why I do not refer, for example, to von Winkler, Oakeshott or Behaim in this matter - their opinions on this issue are very different. And some researchers call swords or rapiers and estoks with konchars - exclusively stabbing swords (although this is simply ridiculous - the sword appeared when the armor began to disappear, and the konchar or estok appeared to pierce this very armor), and ancient narrow Irish swords made of copper and bronze .