The Sussex Rapier School

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On Sunday, 10th August, a number of participants gathered at the Dumfries Border Gathering to face each other for this events first Backsword Tournament.
3 SRS fencers attended.

There were 21 bouts with singlestick to determine a top 4, and then those 4 faced each other with steel blades to determine the top 3 and overall champion of the day.

Despite a constantly changing climate all day, the fencers braved the elements as well as each other, at times fencing regardless in torrential rain (welcome to Scotland!).

The final rounds with steel confirmed the top tournament places –

3rd place,
Robert Wrighton, Sussex Rapier Society

2nd place,
Lyell Drummond, Sussex Rapier Society

1st place,
Mike Smith, Macdonald Academy of Arms.

Small Sword

		The swords shown here are reproduction small-swords, circa 1680s. The SRS uses these to practice techniques from the latter part of time period that we cover. The small-sword (which wasn't necessarily short-bladed) was introduced by the French as early as the 1650s, as a new light, thrusting weapon ideal for self-defence of the gentleman on the street. The elaborate brass hilt, knuckle bow, and pommel are castings, made by Alan Meek of Guildford, Surrey, UK.

		The brass castings were taken from moulds that were made using actual period small-sword. There is evidence that sword furniture in this period was sometimes made from cast brass, however, truly fine pieces would usually be made from steel and worked with gold or silver plating or inlay. The furniture is mounted on a schläger blade, 34.5 inches (88 cm). The diameter of the shell guard is 2.75 inch (7 cm) while the length of the grip and pommel is 6.5 inches (16.7 cm). The length of the weapon is average for what is termed a "transitional" rapier of the period 1650-1680.

		These small-swords, which are representative of weapons between 1680 and 1720, weight approximately 1 lb 7 oz. As the eighteenth century progressed, blade length shortened. However, throughout the latter part of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th, blade length varied widely depending upon personal preference. For instruction in swordplay with small-sword, the SRS uses primarily the manuals of Sir William Hope (Scotland) and of Le Sieur de Liancour (France). --- Clifford Beal

		This is an example of an original Silver parcel-gilt hilt from a small-sword (right), cast, chiseled, and pierced decoration. Paris marks for 1694/95