A specific type of European, straight edged thrusting sword. This tag can apply to rapiers meant for war or fencing foils. Use this tag when your question involves this specific type of sword. If unsure, use swords tag instead.
A specific type of European, straight edged thrusting sword. This tag can apply to actual rapiers meant for war or fencing foils. In the strictest sense, fencing foils should never be called rapiers as they are too short and light when compared to rapiers meant for war. Use this tag when your question involves this specific type of sword. If unsure, use "swords" tag instead.
It is important to note that fencing foils are a derivative of rapiers; rapiers were meant for war and killing, whereas fencing foils evolved from to be shorter and meant for personal duels. The modern fencing foil is actually derived from smallswords, a class of sword related to rapiers, but not used for war. Smallswords were used for gentlemanly duels, which were eventually blunted and further reduced in mass to become the modern fencing foil.
