I don’t know about 19th century, but if you’re a noble, you lack upper body strength, so it’ll be a finesse or dextrous weapon of some type, like a fancy epee or rapier. With studs and gems.
Definitely an épée or possibly a foil. Both were derived from the small sword, which was already more popular than the rapier for dueling by the 18th century. In the 19th century, sword duels were more likely to be decided by first blood than fought to the death.
While you were reading history, I was studying the blade
So what kind of sword would a 19th century French noble fight a duel with and why?
Rapier probably?
No.
I don’t know about 19th century, but if you’re a noble, you lack upper body strength, so it’ll be a finesse or dextrous weapon of some type, like a fancy epee or rapier. With studs and gems.
Definitely an épée or possibly a foil. Both were derived from the small sword, which was already more popular than the rapier for dueling by the 18th century. In the 19th century, sword duels were more likely to be decided by first blood than fought to the death.