A measure of a noble's wealth was his sword. The fancier it was, the richer the noble was. Most nobles were only moderately good with a sword and wore it in a scabbard as part of his outfit.
Tounaments
Tournaments were held to determine a "Master of Fence". However, participants had to fight with not only a rapier, but also short sword, bastard sword, cudgel, and poniard.
Contest for the Position of the Master of Fence
Swordsmen would converge on the city from countryside as far as thirty miles away (an impressive distance before modern transport)
Famous Contests
Masters of the sword were often scarred or walked with a lip because, although the weapons used were supposed to be non-fatal, the bouts were brutal and occasionally led to a death regardless of blunting of weapons.