I happen to possess a French smallsword, which I inherited from my frankly odd parents.

It's a little shorter than and weighs about as much as a Léon Paul fencing épée. The blade is triangular in section -- i.e., a spike with three edges -- and all three edges are sharpened from the point to about halfway up the blade. The hilt is starkly plain, with a cut-steel grip, a minimal knucklebow and short quillons. Its balance is perfect, an

One could, if necessary, slash curtains and upholstery with it, but I don't think it would cut rope because the edge doesn't go back into the forte of the blade.

For stabbing people, on the other hand, it's perfect.