RAPIER COMBAT AND THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM

by Don Tivar Moondragon

INTRODUCTION

This paper is intended to give a brief look at rapier combat as it relates to the Society for 
Creative Anachronism, and answer some of the most-asked questions about its history, safety and 
relationship to the SCA.


HISTORY

The rapier developed in the fifteenth century, due to a variety of factors. The widespread use of 
plate armor led to the development of a longer and thinner sword intended to thrust though the 
chinks in that armor, rather than cutting or crushing through the armor itself. This weapon was 
called the estoc or tuck. Various rings, bars, and eventually plates were added to protect the 
hand while thrusting. 

The fashion of wearing an ornately decorated version of this weapon as a part of civilian dress 
was probably encouraged by the growth of cities and the leisure class. Rich merchants and nobles 
(or their sons) had the time and money to spend upon teachers of defence, to learn to use this 
new weapon. Starting in Italy and Spain, and spreading northward, the rapier was a popular weapon 
throughout Europe by the mid-sixteenth century.

The Encyclopedia Brittanica lists "rapparia espee" (roughly translated as "dress sword") from 
1474; the Oxford English Dictionary lists "raypier" from 1553. The earliest surviving book on 
rapier fighting is Marozzo's Il Duello, published in 1517. Many other such books were written, 
usually by an experienced and well-known teacher who was retiring from active teaching.


IN THE SCA

Rapier combat has been a part of the SCA since the First Tournament. Bouts were fought there, 
using modern fencing equipment and rules. Poul Anderson (Sir Bela of Eastmarch) commented in an 
article about the SCA written in 1969 (A.S. III or IV) that "At present, some people are 
experimenting with rapier and dagger."*

With a few notable exceptions like the Carolingia Rapier Company in the East Kingdom, and 
Ansteorra's Legion of Swashbucklers, rapier combat tended to exist on the fringes of the formal 
structure of the Society until September of A.S. XIV (1979) when the Board of Directors formally 
recognized rapier combat as an ancillary activity of the SCA.

Since the Board's recognition, rapier combat has grown slowly but steadily throughout the SCA. 
As of this writing (November of 1995), rapier combat is an accepted fighting style in Ansteorra, 
An Tir, Atenveldt, Atlantia, Caid, Drachenwald, the East, the Middle, the Outlands and Trimaris. 
It is also being studied on an experimental basis in Meridies. Lochac (Australia), a principality 
of the West allows rapier combat, although the mainland West Kingdom does not.


SAFETY

There are many rumors about the safety level of both SCA rapier combat and modern fencing. Most
 of them are just that--rumors. In the SCA, the worst reported broken-blade injury was a 
three-inch scratch on a fighter's forearm. In modern fencing, there have been deaths from broken 
blades, but they are extremely rare; ocurring roughly once every ten to fifteen years worldwide. 
Statistically, one is more likely to be struck by lightning while playing golf, than killed by a 
broken fencing blade.

The protective clothing worn in SCA rapier combat is specifically designed and tested to 
withstand four hard thrusts from a broken blade. Anything that cannot survive that test may not 
be used for rapier armor. Weapons and equipment are inspected prior to fighting, and anything 
that appears unsafe is not allowed on the field.

*This is from an article entitled "Richard the Lion-Hearted is Alive and Well in California", 
originally published in ®MDBR¯Amra®MDNM¯, (a Conan fanzine) and later reprinted in various 
fantasy anthologies.