Fencing Jackets and Masks

The sport of fencing can be very dangerous without protective equipment, fencing jackets and fencing masks. Dark Knight Armoury has fencing rapier jackets that are made specifically for this sport, that provides protection to the chest and torso area. The design promotes a Renaissance period appearance but permits free arm movement in both single and two-weapon combat. The fencing jacket has a nylon shell with captive cotton fibre fill quilted to prevent padding migration. We also have fencing masks to protect the head and neck area. Competition ready Fencing Masks for use with sport-fencing weapons. Our fencing masks meet international punch-test standard and is recommended for the use with these and any other fencing weapons.

Fencing Rapier Replacement Blades

Dark Knight Armoury has replacement fencing rapier blades for your favorite functional rapier. We know that you have been practicing hard to become that fencing champion and you broken your rapier blade. Our fencing rapier replacement blades are great so you don't have to get rid of that favorite rapier that you practiced with.  Our fencing replacement blades are made of high carbon spring steel and come in a variety of styles and lengths to fit your fencing rapier.

Functional Fencing Foils

The fencing foil is a fencing sword with a light square blade with a button on the end. In modern sport fencing, the foil is used as a thrusting weapon only. Fencing foils are flexible enough to bend upon striking an opponent, in order to prevent injuries. Fencing Foils are the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing. Dark Knight Armoury is proud to carry a full line of functional fencing foils for you to learn and practice the sport of fencing. We have functional fencing foils, practice foils, fencing epee and fencing sabres just to name a few.

Functional Fencing Main Gauche

The main gauche is usually a left handed dagger that was used to guard or defend with when fencing. The fencing main gauche's purpose is to assist in parrying incoming thrust from an opponent or used for close attack if an opportunity arises. The main gauche blade is straight and double edged and frequently has prongs next to the hilt to catch the blade of an adversary's sword. The grip of the main gauche is short and the quillions are long and staight. Dark Knight Armoury has Gustay main gauche, sollingen main gauche, torino main gauche that are all functional and made of high quality materials from Hanwei.

Functional Fencing Rapiers

A fencing rapier is a slender sharp pointed sword that is used mainly for thrusting attacks. Fencing rapiers were mainly used during the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe. The term rapier generally refers to a thrusting sword with a blade longer and thinner than that of the side-sword but heavier than the smallsword. The fencing rapier was a dueling weapon whose form was developed from cut and thrust swords.  Its use was more brutal and forceful than the light sport fencing that we know of today. As a civilian weapon of urban self-defense, a true fencing rapier was a tip-based thrusting sword that used stabbing and piercing, not slashing and cleaving.  True functional rapier blades ranged from early flatter triangular blades to thicker, narrow hexagonal ones.  Fencing rapier hilts range from swept styles to pappenheimer rapiers. Fencing rapiers have no true cutting edge such as with military swords for war.

Functional Pappenheimer Fencing Rapiers

A Pappenheimer rapier whose modern name derives from that of Gottfried Heinrich, Count of Pappenheim (1594-1632), colonel of cuirassier regiment and later the general in command of the imperial cavalry. During the Thirty Years War (1618-48) he adopted and encouraged the use of a sword that was in style among the officers of the day, and which was subsequently named after him. With its dashing good looks, the rapier became the weapon of choice for the civilian gentry, but the military never fully adopted it except as a dress item. However, it was obvious that the hand protection the new sword afforded was something that would be useful in battle. Since armor was in decline, blades could be slimmer. Sword designers conjured up a magic combination- a rapier style guard with a blade somewhere between a rapier and cutting sword. The sword rapier became the sword of choice for most of the military. It was carried by many combatants in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648 AD).

Functional Swept Hilt Fencing Rapiers

The swept hilt rapier was the civilian weapon of choice for close to 200 years, from the early 16th century to the early 18th. On our replica, nine brass bars, all at least 1/8"" thick, swirl and curve to make the dazzling cage that protects the hand from being cut. Also, the Swept-Hilt often caught an opponent's blade, opening him up to a fatal stab. Swordplay with the swept hilt rapier was considered an essential part of a gentleman's education and was often used in resolving gentlemanly disagreements. Functional fencing rapier blades typically originated in Toledo or Solingen and would be hilted by regional smiths, resulting in many hilt styles. Hilt finishes were both practical and decorative and gilding, silvering and bluing were all widely accepted methods of providing both decoration and resistance to rust.