german rapier 17th centuryThe rapier first came into use around 1500 and until the end of the seventeenth century this was the main weapon of European citizens and nobility. Noble soldiers used the rapier mainly for warfare (it was perfect for stabbing between plate armor and leather armor), but also for ceremonial purposes such as parades. A rapier was also used for fencing and duels between two gentlemen, so that the rapier became a permanent attribute of a gentleman. This