Sword categorizing

This is a response to two videos made by IPostSwords about sword terminology.

Rapiers

I like the idea of the rapier spectrum

and use adjectives to describe the position of each. For example, a sidesword would be simply a cutting rapier and for estocs one could call them tuck rapiers (tuck is the English term for estoc) to distinguish them from the two-handed medieval versions. The overall definition of rapier is based mostly on the hilt being of a swept, shell, or cup style with sizable finger rings (toe distinguish from smallswords with finger rings). What then is Meyer's rappier? It is simply a sword as it has no finger rings. As for the interchange of terms in the late 17th and 18th centuries, there are sever ways to term them, the main thing is they are shorter. To be a rapier, a blade should have a yard or more in blade length and larger guards (if a shell or cup compared to those of smallswords). Useful terms include edged smallsword, court smallsword, and colichemarde smallsword. Spadroon is a term for edged smallswords without finger rings and can have broad cutting blades. The so-called "transitional rapier" is acceptable for a short rapier with smallsword shell (or cup) and sizable finger rings.

Scimitars

The scimitar is a useful categorization term just like rapier. The general idea of a scimitar is a curved blade with a cross guard with langets and a curved hilt. Swords that fall into this category safely include the shamshir, kilij, pala, and the saif. The hilt and general curve is the basic definition eliminating things such as the yataghan a tulwar. The term is also acceptable for Mameluke swords and swords often designated for generals of many European nations. Sabre is a broader term for any curved (standard, not inverse) sword often affiliated with more than a cross guard.