AHF longsword against Rapier and Dagger Fight

A Sparring session between two AHF members, using an Albion Maestro line longsword and Darkwood Practice Rapier

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• HEMA
• Rapier
• longsword
• martial
• arts
• fighting
• sparring
• fencing

[piepowa]

I need someone to yell, "YOU DIED!!!!" just so a sword-noob (me) can tell who won.

[Nikos3000]

@piepowa Thats understandable, its not just for newbs. Its pretty hard to tell whats going on in a video. This is why I have put slow-mo replays and text descriptions on most videos since.

[Antb356]

The guy with the dagger, all he had to do was catch a strike on the hilt of the knife, and stab with his rapier, it sounds unplausable but its actually pretty easy provided you dont twist your wrist

[Nikos3000]

@Antb356 Whilst it is possible, and would be typical practice against another rapier, it is highly dangerous against a longsword. The strength and leverage of the longsword makes not just for a powerful cut but also very quick re-direction of cuts. A dagger is quite easily decieved by the speed that the longsword can feint and re-direct cuts. Essentially in using the dagger this way you risk more double hits which should be avoided at all costs.

[JohnRaptor]

I would imagine that the rapier doesn't have the weight/leverage to parry a strong cut from a longsword, but I've never tried. What's your experience re: this?

[Nikos3000]

@JohnRaptor A lot of experimentation has found that it can be done perfectly well providing you parry in the strong (forte) of the blade, which is where you should be parrying anyway. You lose out on the ability to use single time attacks/defences which rely on leverage, but parries can be made for the purpose of defence perfectly well even againt a very strong cut. Also appreciate that most rapiers weigh around 1.3kg, not much less than typical longswords (about 1.6)

[Nikos3000]

@mrBooneish Why on earth not? It happened plenty often enough historically.

[Nikos3000]

@Silk7301 Only the tip, if the longsword connected with the last foot of the blade there is some chance it could break, but then nobody should be parrying with that part of the sword anyway. Countless tests have been made striking a rapier with a full power cut, you'd be amazed how strong they are, and museum examples are typically much broader at the ricasso and forte than reproductiions.

[Lightdarkness07]

I was wondering if there was any chance of blocking a Horizontal longsword slash with your Rapier and circling around corresponding to the direction of the attack and at the same time thrusting towards the neck with the dagger would work in a duel? Would a soldier clad in heavy armor be able to maneuver quickly enough to stop a lethal stab?

[enantiomer2000]

at 2:16 did he block the longsword with his dagger? cool stuff!

[Nikos3000]

@Lee94503 Depends largely on your opponent, a full length rapier can be unweildy for such things, and that middle distance between the rapier lunge and closing for the dagger is where you are vulnerable to the leverage and power of the rapier. Best use of a rapier against longsword is to avoid contact and use the reach and disengage to strike safely on open lines. The dagger is of course extremely useful as well and presents some major issues for the longswordsman who would attempt to close.

[Lee94503]

Rapier and dagger is best when used with "Burst Attacks" countering with the rapier and closing the distance and finishing with the dagger to the heart.