Rapier and cut & thrust

Kirksey_Dave · Post by **Kirksey_Dave** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:10 pm

Hello all!

Though my interest in RMA is not new, I mostly have leaned toward learning longsword. Recently, after a curious purchase involving Thibault, my interest in the rapier has been increasing. I was wondering if anyone has a good suggestion for a treatise out there that would be good for beginners, and I already have the Clements Renaissance manual.

I also have a growing interest in the cut and thrust and was wondering what books out there I should look into for that as well.

Tank you for your time
Dave Kirksey

Sal Bertucci · Post by **Sal Bertucci** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:41 pm

Di grassi is a good manual to start with in that range b/c even though it is really a manual for a C&T type sword, the system is so thrust-centric that it could very easily translate to rapier. (Indeed, in the later English translation they just swapped the word "rapier" for "sword".)

Kirksey_Dave · Post by **Kirksey_Dave** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:39 pm

Thanks again. You always are quick to respond and for that I am grateful. I am currently looking into the Di Grassi. I have Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial arts and there is something on it in that book ( as you probably know). That with the plates on the website should be a good help. Just out of curiosity though, do you know of any translations out there I can buy?

Sal Bertucci · Post by **Sal Bertucci** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:58 pm

What can I say, I spend too much time at my desk far too often. :wink:

I don't know of any Di Grassi for sale, but we have the "Englished" version in the members area. On other C&T I know a Henry St. Ditier(sp) book came out recently from Paladin. There are several different Rapier manuals available to buy as well.

Stacy Clifford · Post by **Stacy Clifford** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:47 am

This is a good place to look, they have both the Italian (1570) and English (1594) versions of Di Grassi here:

http://www.umass.edu/renaissance/lord/collection.html

Vincent Le Chevalier · Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:05 pm

As for rapier you might want to look into Fabris, which has been translated in English and published:
http://www.chivalrybookshelf.com/titles/fabris/artofdueling.htm
It is interesting to have along Thibault, because the methods and the tactics are quite different. So with both you have a good idea of the variance that can be found in rapier...

Kirksey_Dave · Post by **Kirksey_Dave** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 2:18 pm

Excellent link! Thank you very much for all the input. I have been reading di Grassi (well, Mr. Clement's essay in Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts). I have found that, when reading the old English, it is best not to think about the letters and just keep reading. The words will make sense that way. Thanks again and I will continue to read up on things as I wait the response to my application.

Allen Johnson · Post by **Allen Johnson** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:30 pm

Can't go wrong with Capo Ferro either.

Matt Bryant · Post by **Matt Bryant** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:50 pm

I am a fan of Swetnam's rapier.

http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/swetnam.htm

John Couch · Post by **John Couch** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:21 am

Allen Johnson wrote:Can't go wrong with Capo Ferro either.

"I find that Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?"

John Farthing · Post by **John Farthing** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:47 pm

John Couch wrote:
Allen Johnson wrote:Can't go wrong with Capo Ferro either.
"I find that Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?"

"Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa.... Which I have."

John Couch · Post by **John Couch** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 6:43 pm

John Farthing wrote:
John Couch wrote:
Allen Johnson wrote:Can't go wrong with Capo Ferro either.
"I find that Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?"
"Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa.... Which I have."

And even though I tried Bonneti's Defense and am somewhat ambidextrous, I will endeavor to get used to disappointment