Editing Rapier (section)

== Off-hand weapons ==
Rapiers are single-handed weapons and they were often employed with off-hand [[buckler]]s, [[dagger]]s, cloaks and even second swords to assist with defense. A [[buckler]] is a small round shield that was used with other blades as well, such as the [[arming sword]]. [[Capo Ferro]]'s ''Gran Simulacro'' depicts use of the weapon with the rotella, which is a significantly bigger shield compared with the buckler. Nevertheless, using the rapier with a parrying dagger is the most common practice, and it has been arguably considered as the most suited and effective accompanying weapon for the rapier.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Parrying Dagger |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/32166 |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=The MET: Parrying Dagger |language=en }}</ref>

Even though the slender blade of a rapier enables the user to launch a quick attack at a fairly long and advantaged distance between the user and the opponent, and the protective hilt can deflect the opponent's blade, the thrust-oriented weapon is weakened by its bated cutting power and relatively low maneuverability at a closer distance, where the opponent has safely passed the reach of the rapier's deadly point.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Burgess |first1=Colin |last2=Gerloff |first2=Sabine |title=The Dirks and Rapiers of Great Britain and Ireland |date=1981 |publisher=Beck |isbn=9783406070839 |pages=32–33 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E46ZMgf41BoC&dq=slender+blade+of+rapier&pg=PA32 |access-date=23 November 2023}}</ref>

Therefore, some close-range protection for the user needs to be ensured if the user intends to use the rapier in an optimal way, especially when the opponent uses some slash-oriented sword like a [[sabre]] or a [[broadsword]]. A parrying dagger not only enables the users to defend in this scenario in which the rapier is not very good at protecting the user, but also enables them to attack in such close distance.