[Low-Tech] Material or quality

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I think that was the reason for the evolution of the broadsword to rapier to smallsword. A tiny shaft of metal shoved through your guts will kill you just as dead as a sharpened car door. So it often ended up with whoever stabbed fastest.

My impression is that that sword development was caused by changes in armour fashion. A rapier isn't worth anything against an armoured foe, but as armour went out of fashion, so did broadswords.