Weapons

Rapiers are slender, sharply pointed, single-handed swords with elaborate hilts, popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries as civilian sidearms for dueling and self-defense, emphasizing thrusting attacks over heavy cutting, though they could do both. Their name comes from the Spanish espada ropera ("sword of the robes"), signifying their role as a gentleman's accessory and weapon. They feature complex guards like swept hilts or cup hilts for hand protection and were central to developing sophisticated fencing styles.

A sabre (or saber) is a curved, single-edged sword, historically favored by cavalry for its powerful slashing ability, featuring a distinctive large handguard (bell or basket hilt) for hand protection and balance, though variations exist with straighter blades for thrusting, making it a versatile weapon for cutting and thrusting, lighter than many straight swords.

A longsword is a versatile, straight, double-edged European sword from the Late Medieval to Renaissance periods, defined by its long grip for primarily two-handed use, cruciform (cross-shaped) hilt for defense, and a blade length typically around 31-43 inches, used for cutting, thrusting, and parrying in both warfare and duels. Unlike massive battlefield weapons (like a greatsword or Zweihänder), longswords were balanced enough to serve as effective sidearms and status symbols for knights and soldiers.

A sidesword is a versatile, one-handed Renaissance sword, a transitional weapon between the medieval arming sword and the early rapier, featuring a double-edged blade for both cutting and thrusting, and a distinctive complex hilt with rings and bars for hand protection, designed to be worn at the hip, hence its name (Italian: spada da lato). These swords typically have a moderate length (around 31-38 inches) and weight (2-2.5 lbs), offering a balance of defense and agility for civilian and military use, often paired with a dagger or buckler.

A dagger is a short, pointed, double-edged blade with a handle, designed primarily for stabbing and thrusting in close combat, differing from knives by its symmetrical, piercing tip rather than a primary cutting edge, historically used for defense, ceremony, or assassination, and also refers to the '†' symbol for footnotes.