Quote Originally Posted by Mr Beer View Post
Fencing weapons are the ultimate sword...for fencing. I wouldn't want to fight an extended battle against numerous guys in armour and carrying heavy weapons, while armed with a rapier. The guys who did that kind of stuff felt the same way, which is why they used swords, axes, spears etc.

Armour is heavy, expensive and exhausting to fight in. Still warriors tended to get the best armour they could afford and wear it in battle. Because it worked. Most armour would stop a fencing weapon very easily, leaving the "primitive warrior" free to attack (or "riposte" if you will) and good luck parrying a broadsword or axe with a rapier.
Actual rapiers can be fairly substantial weapons. The later smallswords and epees are where things start to get really, well, small.