Swept Hilt Rapiers trace their origins to early 17th century
Europe, where swordplay with the Rapier was considered
an essential part of a gentleman's education and was often
used in resolving gentlemanly disagreements.
The decline of armor and the
rise of the musket was simultaneous, and some would say
a necessary precursor, for the rise of the rapier. The
rapier depended almost entirely on the thrust for use,
and would have been useless against an armored opponent.
The almost wholesale abandonment of armor allowed for
the rise of a sword devoted to thrusting. The rapier,
although carried as a secondary weapon by almost all soldiery,
was almost never used as a primary weapon throughout this
period.
Blades generally originated
in Toledo or Solingen but were hilted by regional smiths,
resulting in many different hilt styles and finishes.
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