>>11288706To get an idea of what a rapier looks like in comparison with a later small-sword (or a modern fencing weapon for that matter), here is a size comparison. The weapon on the left is a small-sword, as it would have been worn in the 18th century, which would be most comparable to a modern foil. On the right we see rapiers. It's easy to see that these are much more warlike and substantial weapons, but also much more cumbersome to wield, requiring quite a bit of strength to use effectively.
