Which sword fighting skill is the best and the deadliest?

Are you having them wear armor as well? Something like a rapier would never pierce plate armor, but a claymore would be able to damage a plate armor wearer (not from splitting it mind you, but from the fact that claymores are useful as blunt weapons).

Without armor, it would still depend. A rapier is quicker than most other types of swords, but can only damage with thrusts, and wouldn’t be able to withstand parrying heavier swords. Something like a claymore, while it could do heavy damage, isn’t quick enough to really hold up against quicker weapons. The best bet would probably be a sword that is relatively light and fairly sturdy and that would be able to both thrust and parry (and would probably need to be a two-handed weapon to withstand a parry from a heavier weapon like a claymore). A katana would be my best guess as the best all around, but I’m sure there are swords that I don’t know about that would be better suited for being the best and deadliest than that.

The one who was more skilled would win. Weapons are tools that reflect the abilities of those who wield them. Since the swords that are used for combat have no disproportionate advantage over others (their costs and benefits balance, which is why no one sword style dominates in the first place), the weapon itself will not be decisive.

Different tools for different places and modes of fighting.

A Claymore, as @amujinx has suggested, is a battlefield weapon: usable in many ways in that context. In single combat, and certainly at close quarters, it probably wouldn’t be as effective as a rapier.

On the other hand, neither of those weapons would be very effective for, say, pirates or sailors to use, which was why the cutlass was developed: you can slash your opponent, and also cut rigging with it, but it’s not meant for stabbing.

A US Civil War-era saber is an effective weapon for a mounted cavalryman: light enough for constant wear, strong and durable for battle use, and both edged and pointed for different types of killing strokes. (You wouldn’t be mounting a charge from horseback and attempting to “stab” an opponent, for example.)

Personally, I’d go with poison, and doctor their water the night before the bout.

Reminds me of the Playstation game ‘Bushido Blade.’ It uses mostly Japanese weapons, but each have their advantages/disadvantages, mostly in the range, power and speed of the weapon (a Nodachi, for instance, is longer and heavier than the katana, and takes more energy to wield – hence is slower, but has a longer range to keep the enemy at bay, and a heavier killing strike). Anyone can beat anyone with any weapon if skilled enough, it depends on their fighting style. In that game I found that the katana was my favorite because it was a good all-around weapon and had a good balance of weight and length. Not to mention they were tested by the emperor by their ability to cut a man in half with a flick of the wrist.

Wow, hard question…at least for someone who’s knowledge of sword fighting is pretty much limited to fiction. (me, I mean)
It’s hard to tell…I’m thinking that a lot of those ancient Samurai sword fighting techniques were probably pretty efficient, as besides blocking, a lot of it focused on one hit kills, or at least, extreme injury. Still, Feudal Japan is known for its strict discipline and mad training and dedication. As pointed already, I think a lot of it has to do with how much the person is willing to put into it, whatever the art
Take a Highlander or a Viking, known to rush like a madman into battle with a claymore or an axe. It’s completely false that all they needed was muscles and lack of fear. Intense training also went on for mass and close quarter combat.

But which one is more effective…pit a samurai and a Scotsman against one another and find out. I can’t do anything but to repeat what everyone else already said…really depends on the situation and what techniques it compliments the most, and if said technique was meant for one or several opponents. I wouldn’t go up against several people with a rapier, but I might go up against a lone samurai with one.

I don’t know about the Rapier but, this is the take on the Katana:The Samurai quick-draw with the katana sword is one amazing feat. In the art of drawing the sword, the Samurai warrior is capable of killing several opponents standing around him. The demonstration of slicing through two pig carcasses was nothing short of amazing. But as we saw in the final test of the sword, the Viking chain mail armor stood its ground and protected the target.

WARNING:
Though very informational, this show is what I consider graphic violence (blood, gore and violence). I think it is rated TV 14.
Deadliest Warrior: Viking vs Samurai Finale Battle

Deadliest Warrior – Season 1, Episode 2: Viking vs. Samurai Full Episode

Wow, thanks to all jellies who posted! Much appreciated. : )

Dude, Vikings VS Samurais? I’m so there.

Baguette sword fighting!

@EnchantingEla Oh yeah, you fight and get nourishment at the same time. : )