The hilt technical drawing. One very important note. Even though the ricasso (rectangular cross-section piece) is part of the "hilt" drawing, as a material, it should be part of the *blade*, since the blade actually is one piece of steel that goes all the way from the point through the pommel. I have added one detail that does not appear on my own rapier but that would appear on any historical rapier. This is the pommel nut (marked with a "z" on the drawing). A proper, true right and proper, European sword does NOT have a threaded tang. Instead, the tang goes *all* the way through the pommel with a slight projection. A circular (not hexagonal) "nut" is put over this projection--but more of the tang should still protrude. The extra is then peened over to solidify the sword. The advantage to this is that it is much more solid than a threaded tang. The disadvantage is that if it ever does get knocked loose, you have to go to a smith to fix it. In the modern day, this construction method seems to also be more expensive than a threaded tang.