German Rapier & Saber - Paperback

by [translated] M. P. Lynch (Author)

This book is a must have for the HEMA library. Mensur refers to rapier dueling from the hanging guard with only the head being targeted. Unlike the French epee duel which so often proved fatal (and continued into the 1960's), the German-speaking world has maintained a cut/slash only form of combat wherein deep facial wounds are dealt out (explaining the scars and eye-patches on German officers in old war movies) but death is very rare, and always the result of an accident. This form of the duel (practiced mainly among university students) proves a man's mettle win or lose, and scars are worn as a badge of honor. Upon moving on to the military the rapier is exchanged for the saber which is held forth in the standard "steep" guard, and cuts could be delivered to a wider range of targets in sparring. The brothers (and fencing masters) Christian and Friedrich Seemann-Kahne edited and assembled existing material into this third edition of the Akademische Fechtschule which was meant to be released in 1914, but was delayed in its publication by the coming of the war until 1926. It includes two books: Deutsche Hiebfechtschule für Korb und Glockenrapier (German Cut-Fencing School for Basket and Bell rapier) and Deutsche Säbelfechtschule (German Saber Fencing School). Both allow the modern swordsmen to experiment with German broad-blade cut fencing as it was preserved from earlier tradition into the 20th century.