| Associated images can be found at | | | | the end result being the small sword or court |
| | | | sword. I'm not saying that this blade shape |
| I've just received a Hanwei bone handled | | | | is in any way unauthentic, I just prefer a |
| rapier and main gauche for review and I'm | | | | wider blade from an earlier period. |
| quite impressed. Model numbers SH1092 and | | | | |
| SH2197. The guard is nicely formed - | | | | I did not test the blade for performance but |
| functional and yet elegant, as befitting a | | | | I expect it would perform quite well against |
| gentleman's weapon. There are a couple of | | | | a period blade. Modern blade steel is |
| slight wobbles in the guard branches but they | | | | completely different than that of the 16th |
| don't detract from the overall look and feel | | | | century, both in its manufacture and chemical |
| of the piece. As you can see from the photos | | | | composition. Because of these differences in |
| there are a number of embellishments to the | | | | materials it isn't easy to compare modern |
| guard that really make it quite attractive. | | | | blades with old. An exact comparison of blade |
| It's not over-done so the total appearance | | | | thicknesses and hardness doesn't really tell |
| suggests a weapon an officer might have | | | | us much, because the materials have such |
| carried. | | | | different specifications. I think it's safe |
| | | | to say that modern steels are tougher, more |
| The pommel is quite massive but balances the | | | | chemically consistent and hold an edge better |
| long blade well, and the balance point is | | | | (using modern tempering techniques) than |
| just a fingers width in front of the pas | | | | steels of several hundred years ago. |
| d'âne. The blade is just over 36in long | | | | Tempering methods can also be quite different |
| which is about right for the period. This | | | | but modern steels can be tempered using older |
| weapon feels very quick in hand, somewhat due | | | | differential tempering methods as well as |
| to its light weight (just over 2lbs) but also | | | | modern cryogenic techniques. |
| its balance. The grip is generous and will | | | | |
| easily accommodate a gloved hand. The pas | | | | After all of this waffling I believe this |
| d'âne has ample space for gloved fingers | | | | blade to be excellent steel with a good |
| and the écusson is nicely shaped to give a | | | | temper. |
| good grip yet not cut into your fingers. Now | | | | |
| whether the grip is historically accurate is | | | | The main gauche is a perfect companion to |
| a different question. Many grips on antique | | | | this rapier. The bone grip is done in the |
| swords were large like this but some were | | | | same fashion and the guard and quillon match. |
| not. I suspect it would depend on the | | | | The blade is nicely shaped and comes to a |
| swordsman and his preferences. I don't think | | | | fine point. |
| we can say with certainty that all swordsmen | | | | |
| used gloves. The grip on this particular | | | | Scabbards for both blades are of a composite |
| model feels good with, or without, a glove. | | | | material covered with leather. They are done |
| | | | quite nicely and match the blades well. |
| The bone handle is very attractive. This is | | | | |
| not my first choice for a handle material | | | | Blades for both weapons come unsharpened but |
| because I've seen a number of old knives and | | | | could easily be with a few strokes of a |
| swords with very loose bone or antler | | | | stone. Sharpening isn't something I recommend |
| handles, but this grip is a little different. | | | | since a sharp sword is much more dangerous |
| You can see in some of the photos a small | | | | than most people think. I've heard of a |
| bone spacer on either end of the bone grip. I | | | | number of accidents with sharp blades. When |
| presume this acts to strengthen the ends of | | | | most people pick up a sword they expect it to |
| the bone. This is an excellent feature and | | | | be the garden variety you would find at the |
| says a lot about Hanwei's commitment to | | | | mall, and they handle it with very little |
| producing 'the real thing' rather than wall | | | | respect. Remember also that rapiers weren't |
| hangers. This sword can be ordered with a | | | | designed as cutting weapons. They depended on |
| practical fencing blade so they have thought | | | | a lethal thrust. A sharpened blade was meant |
| about its use in practice. | | | | to discourage grabbing and trapping of the |
| | | | blade. |
| The blade is nicely done but I would have | | | | |
| liked to see it wider and a little stiffer. | | | | In conclusion Hanwei's bone handled rapier |
| Rapiers came with a wide assortment of blade | | | | and main gauche are a good pair and excellent |
| shapes, the single similar factor being their | | | | value. These are functional weapons and I |
| longer length. Earlier rapiers had wider | | | | believe that a period gentleman would have |
| blades and over time they became thinner with | | | | been proud to own and use them. |