This Renaissance Side Sword has a sharpened blade forged from 5160 high carbon steel. The complex hilt is fashioned from stainless steel with an antiqued appearance. The grip of wood and the blade ricasso are tightly overlaid in supple leather. Included is a fiberglass-core scabbard which is wrapped in quality leather and finished with antiqued stainless steel fittings.

Unlike the rapier, the Side-Sword retains enough meat in the blade width to make it a much more respectable cutter; an acutely tapered tip ensures that it can also thrust with deadly efficiency. Whilst the Rapier was typically a civilian weapon or a weapon of practical self-defense, the Side-Sword, with its greater ability to parry heavier blades could function as a battlefield sword. This example by Kingston Arms is based on a German original and it is quite an agile performer! It is quick on the slash and strike and its balance makes it easy to control the tip in a thrust. The complex guard ably serves to protect the hand and allows the forefinger to safely finger the guard for even greater blade control.