rapiers?

[Cascabel]

The question that I would have is would a deckhand pirate have the skill to use a thin blade with virtually no edge beyond the first few inches? The rapier is a thrusting weapon and does not have the mass to parry a cutlass in a dead stop. It relies on deflection to keep the opponent's blade away. The skills used in rapier fighting come at a cost of both time and money, neither of which is something that your average deckhand or topman is going to spend for such a purpose. Much the same can be said for the smallsword. While captains might have the skill, and one or two officers, the rank and file generally did not come from the class of people accustomed to the rapier and smallsword.

Indeed, Suh !!! Part of a well-bred young man's education at the time was swordsmanship, along with Greek, Latin, and the Law, among other things. Such training was not part of the lifestyle of the lower classes. Highly unlikely for an ordinary seaman to be familiar with the finer points of thrusting weapons.

>>>> Cascabel

[Bright]

See

Reclaiming the Blade

(2008)

Explore the history of the sword in this cutting-edge documentary, which traverses the globe to interview archaeologists, research scientists and martial arts experts from Europe, the United States and Asia. Special guests include Hollywood fight choreographer Bob Anderson, historical fencing expert John Clements, illustrator and conceptual designer John Howe and swashbuckling actor Viggo Mortensen. John Rhys-Davies narrates

[Dread Pyrate Greyhound]

I'd shorten it for use at sea, and then it could be a vanity thing for wanting a rapier, but at the same time practivcal .. Unless you're doing a more fantasy thing, at the same time, it could be a dress sword.