Renaissance Parrying Dagger with Leather Sheath
Battle-Ready (Practical Blunt), SK-C
Primarily carried as a companion sidearm, the parrying dagger enjoyed great popularity at the end of the late Middle Ages and especially during the Renaissance. Wielded in the left hand (hence also known as a main gauche – French for left hand), it was usually brought into play in conjunction with a primary weapon – sword or rapier – for a two-handed fighting style. With its prominent guard, which offered protection to the off-hand and appeared in many variations (straight, S-shaped, downturned, sometimes equipped with an additional ring or shell), this secondary weapon was essentially of a defensive nature, devised to parry, deflect, block or trap enemy blades in close-quarters combat. However, it was also effective in the offence and quite capable of stabbing an opponent. Besides, artfully crafted and richly ornamented daggers were also used as a fashionable display of wealth by knights and well-to-do townsmen, who ostentatiously carried them as a status symbol.
Although the good value, battle-ready dagger we offer here is not an exact replica of an actual historical example, if features the typical characteristics of a traditional Renaissance parrying dagger. The unsharpened full-tang blade made of EN45 spring steel was hardened, tempered to a Rockwell hardness of approx. 48 HRC, and is (invisibly) threaded to the pommel. It has a broad central fuller that ends about halfway down its length. The hilt is composed of a four-sided wooden core grip overlaid with black leather and framed by a scent-stopper pommel and a sturdy, approx. 12 cm wide cross guard, both made of steel. The guard's quillons curve towards the blade and terminate with tapered, conical finials.
This handsome thrusting weapon comes complete with a sturdy (approx. 3 mm thick), neatly stitched sheath made of brown, vegetable-tanned leather and equipped with a belt loop.
The blade's blunt, 1.5 mm / 2 mm thick edges and rounded tip make this left-hand dagger ideal for light combat re-enactment, stage fighting or sparring. Of course, it is also perfectly suited as a collectible, decoration/display piece or prop, e.g. to complete your costume.
Details:
-Battle-ready Sword Category : SK-C
Learn more about our classification for blunt practical swords
- Blade material: EN45 spring steel (high carbon steel, not stainless), hardened and tempered
- Rockwell hardness: approx. 48 HRC
- Handle material: leather-bound wood, steel pommel and guard
- Overall length: approx. 43 cm
- Blade length: approx. 28 cm
- Hilt length: approx. 15 cm (grip approx. 10 cm)
- Blade width at guard: approx. 3.2 cm
- Blade thickness: approx. 3.8 mm / 3.5 mm (cutting edges approx. 1.5 to 2 mm)
- Point of balance: approx. 2 cm from the guard
- Incl. genuine leather sheath with belt loop
- Weight without sheath: approx. 490 g
- Weight with sheath: approx. 550 g
Specs may slightly vary from piece to piece.
The steel used here is not rust-proof and might show slight surface tarnishing in places. We recommend you to maintain the blade on a regular basis, for example using Ballistol Universal Oil, which is ideally suited for steel care.