Sharp and Shiny
What is the coolest sword shown in movies?
Everyone will have their own favorite, of course. I have to admit that I harbor a soft spot for the rapiers used in The Three Musketeers (1973).
While being elegant and ornate, they also filled the role of fully functional weapons. Tools used to keep alive in a dangerous age.
A blog post discusses the “Top 10 Most Badass Swords in Cinema”. No rapiers are to be found.
(Hat tip to John.)
December 11th, 2009 at 5:17 am
I must confess that when I saw your remark that there were no rapiers in the top 10 badass swords that I thought this quite appropriate, as the rapier is a bit dodgy (being of imperfect length, and so on). But, having seen what’s on that link, I’d rather have the swords those chaps above are carrying any day.
Better still, either of the weapons used in this scene.
December 11th, 2009 at 5:29 am
“Better still, either of the weapons used in this scene.”
I clicked the link, and read the page. The author states that the two swords in question are a rapier and Scottish claymore.
While I agree that there is a claymore involved, I never thought that other one was a rapier. What would you call it, Milo? A smallsword?
December 11th, 2009 at 5:53 am
It seemed more like a variety of spadroon to me, a weapon that Hope called a “shearing sword.” It is vaguely light a small-sword with an edge to it.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:42 am
One of the greatest adventure films of all time!
December 11th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Yes, and screenplay by George McD Fraser, author of the Flashman series….
December 12th, 2009 at 4:09 am
And in the end that’s what it comes down to. Personally, fighting on the ground IGreetings from Texas,
When you said swords mentioned in the blog, silly me, I thought you ment swords. The first thing on his list is a light saber? Give me strenght!
Being someone who studies, collects and trains with weapons I am at a disadvantage when it comes to movie swords.
I love rapiers, it’s everything I thought a sword should be when growing up, They are light and quick if you get a good one properly ballenced.
The Claymore like Wallace had in the movie is a wonderful weapon and will do one hell of a lot of damage. The problem is the thing weighs as much as an M1 Garand, or more. Swinging that thing around will tire you out fast. The rapier was designed to defeat that kind of sword. Study the two fighting styles and you will see how.
A lot of folks badmouth cavary sabers (have I mentioned I can’t spell) but for the application they were designed for they can’t be beat.
Katana’s are in a class all thier own. Again a different fighting style, much faster than anything you see on American TV. Problem is you have to know that style.
And in the end that’s what it comes down to. Fighting on the ground I would prefer to have a rapier. But the deciding factor isn’t the sword but the swordsman.
December 12th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Study the two fighting styles and you will see how.
Indeed. I’d recommend my “imperfect length” link as a starting point.
I’ve found that rapiers aren’t really that bad, but the small-sword is much more my sort of thing.