Does anyone know of any local (or not so local) bladesmiths that
turn our rapiers capable of sustained, heavy use?  I've been
borrowing friends weapons, but nothing I've seen so far is as
sturdy as I'd like.  Places like Museum Replicas seem to charge
and arm and a leg for something that doesn't look that substantial.
I do a bit of smithing myself, but it'll be a while before my
skills and equipment are up to a project of this size.  Any sources
(along with approximate prices) would be appreciated.

12 responses total.

If you still have contact with David, I would ask him.  I believe the ones
we used were from Museum Replicas, but I wouldn't advise spending that much
just to trash them.  (And they WILL get trashed.)

Your other problem is to find someone else interested, or you will need
to get two blades.

I've thought about that.  A friend of David's has a couple of rapiers that
A friend of David's has a couple of rapiers that I believe aren't
made by Museum Replicas.  They're nice enough, but it looks like the
hand guard would give way over time.  I've heard good and bad things about
the Museum replica variety.  I think that it's the luck of the draw
on whether or not the manufacturer they use is any good.  If I have
to get the two swords from them, I'll problaby be dropping somewhere
in the neighborhood of $400-$500.  Before I go that route I thought I'd
see what was available elsewhere.  I'd just as soon get a servicable
one without engraving, etc. that would drive up the price and maybe
make me think twice about a hard parry.  Thanks for the info.  By the by,
are you interested in participating in a little non-SCA rapier?  And
Thanks for the info.

Personally I've heard alot of good re: Museum Replicas quality blades, and in
comparison to some I've seen, they are relatively resonable.  If you want in-
expensive, there is a blades shop (or used to be) at (I think) Twelve Oaks mall
but I'm not certain of quality.  I wish I could remember the name of the shop,
but by accident I found a shop in Kentucky with all sorts of swords and rapiers
but I've lost the address.  If I find it, I'll let ya know.

Most of the good things I have heard about MR blades were not so much the 
quality, but the look and availability.  I would have to look much closer
to see if I would consider them "combat ready" for any amount of time. (Not
that they normally need to be:)
Yet, if there "armour" sheilds and clothing are any indication; the 
quality is far behind the price.

Right.  I doubt if most of their customers actually intend to do anything with
their blades besides hang them on the wall.  That's fine too, but I have
more repect for a "working" weapon.  However, that's probably where I'll put
a pair of them in between uses.

If anyone is interested, I've located about 2-3 suppliers of full-size
rapiers (combat grade).  Most offer a choice of epee, schlager, or
full-size rapier blades.  Most are not cheap.  The range is from
about $260 - $500.  Contact me if you want names and addresses.

For anyone who is interested, here are three
sources of rapiers:

Rod Casteel's Colonial Armoury
106 Lynnbrook
Eugene, OR 97404
(503) 688-0607 (Before 10 A.M. or after 5 P.M.)
Catalog $2

J. F. Schroter Antique Arms
P.O. Box 10794
Costa Mesa, California 92627

Arms & Armor Inc.
1101 Stinson Blvd.
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 331-6473
Catalog $2

Are there any places closer to the Michigan area?

These are all I've been able to come up with.
I was more concerned with obtaining combat
grade weapons than with those that would be
suitable for light theatrical or costume use.
I have seen locally produced blades that
were quite nice to look at, but I haven't
talked to anyone that has put them to serious
use.  I was hoping that someone here might have
done so, but there appears to be only a couple of us
unhinged enough to work with full-weight weapons.

Since I started this topic, I've been corresponding
with other people that are recreating Elizabethan
fencing.  Rod Casteel's blades get high marks (at
least for the price, they're in the $200-$300 range).
However, almost everyone seems to have problems with
the hand guards coming apart.  Most people end up
having to weld these back together.  This is coupled
with an informed source that tells me that Casteel
has his blades made up by a local millwright and
only makes the hand guards leads me to believe that
I might be able to make a few of these myself.
However, I don't know how many blades I'd have to
buy at a time to make it cost effective.  If you know
any good millwrights (amateur or professional) or
would perhaps be interested in going in with me on
a batch of blades, please drop me a note.  One of
the books on swords gives accurate dimensions for
the blades, but the title escapes me at the moment.
However, I won't be handcrafting any hand guards
in the very near future.  (I've got wrist surgery
coming up next week that will take me out of fencing
let alone any smithing for about three weeks.)

If you're interested in making your own blades, paladin press has several
very good books on the subject, as well as a video series you can purchase.

That's very interesting.  I recognize the publisher's name, but I
don't have an address for them.  Do you think you could post
it or tell me who deals in their books?  Thanks!

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