[Low-Tech] Material or quality

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I think that was the reason for the evolution of the broadsword to rapier to smallsword.

Nah, there's probably some metallurgy issues involved (not that easy to make a long thin stabby thing that doesn't just break), but mostly it's a matter of where the weapon was intended to be used. A broadsword is a battlefield weapon (a 19th century cavalry saber is a broadsword), a smallsword is a weapon for court duels (and is the size it is for political reasons), a rapier is what happens when there's no limit on how long a sword you're allowed to carry.