Fechtschule; Germany, 1750

Plenty of action

Talk about a three-ring circus!

Schläger Mensur; Heidelberg, Germany, 19th ct.

A biedermeier meeting of the minds

Thanks to Mark Twain and Jerome K. Jerome, Anglo-Saxons on both sides of the Atlantic consider the Mensur — a pan-German ritual of passage practised wherever quality German is spoken Heidelberg Mensur — synonymous with Heidelberg.

Lance practice; Austro-Hungary, c. 1905

Clash of the titans…

Military Cut Fencing; Germany, 1925

Boys will be boys…

Lance vs. Sword Drill; France, 1906:

This postcard, stamped and mailed in 1906, shows cavalry soldiers at Saumur practicing on foot…