The Castilia Rapier |

∴ A Soldier’s Return∴

The parched grass is warm beneath your bare feet, just as you knew it would be. Leaving your leather boots by the roadside, you savour the sensation and venture deeper between the vines.

Each pleached row points toward the same horizon, a dozen dusty avenues reaching toward the declining sun and the dusk-drenched fortress. Low, square, yet somehow statuesque the structure stands semi-silhouetted, a smattering of almond trees tenaciously clinging to its sloping side.

On impulse you draw your sword. The wire-wrapped grip and faceted pommel slip into your palm like the hand of a lover, and the blackened bars provide as much protection as any fort. Its call has been the closest thing to home for all these years – and yet here you are. Back where you started.

With a bittersweet smile you raise the blade before you, and let it point your way home.

∴ Specs ∴

Creating a sword that combines a client’s aesthetic interests with their fencing requirements is always an exciting challenge. This fencer favoured a strong military style including square bars, significant hand coverage and a 44″ blade. She also required a lightweight weapon with a hilt suited to smaller hands.

The result is a weapon that’s imposing to look at yet nimble to handle, its ambidextrous hilt specifically shaped to protect and complement a smaller hand. The smaller grip allows the pommel to nestle into the palm, offering greater control over the long blade and contributing to a finely-tuned balance.

A similar bespoke rapier would start at £1250 plus postage.

Total length: 123cm
Blade length: 44″
Blade width: 2cm at base
Grip length: 7cm
Grip and pommel length: 12cm
Quillon span: 28cm
Point of Balance: 10.5cm
Weight: 1220g
Sparring-safe edges, flex and swollen tip

∴ Notes ∴

The hardened furniture is blackened to a matte finish, and the protective plates are pierced with a pattern of stars and diamonds. The pear-shaped pommel is hand-carved into facets, and the hardwood grip is finished in twisted wire.

∴ Gallery ∴

∴ Variants ∴

This customised creation features a made-to-measure grip with braided strands of copper and steel wire, finished with turks head knots to top and bottom. The copper strands are mirrored by the copper peening block atop the classic round pommel.