A Dagger for The I.C.C.E. Show

Gary Mulkey

Gary Mulkey

Joined
May 14, 2001
Messages
1,414
Here's a Chuck Ward photo of my most recent. The blade is of 1080 & 15N20. The ring guard is of 416. The handle is blackwood with sterling silver ferules & pommel.

side%20ring%20dagger%20medium%20size_opt_zpsiklm2cer.jpg


I'd like to thank Kevin Cashen for his advice on making the ring guard and to Brian Thie for his advice on the silver ferules.

I plan on having this one on my table for The I.C.C.E. Show in Sept. Hope to see you there.

Gary
 
Beautiful Dagger.
Now to show my ignorance.........
What is the purpose of a ring guard? other than the obvious.
Not meant as criticism or anything. I just don't understand and thought I should ask.
 
Looks like it is designed as a "Main Gauche' dagger, used when sword fighting, with the sword in your right hand, dagger in the left and used to block your opponents sword, while you engage him with the sword. Big guard to protect your hand from the sword. John
 
Thank You John.
I have seen this type guard on other knives and did not understand the purpose.
Your explanation makes sense.

Sorry to go off on a tangent Gary.
I am very fond of daggers and yours is a beauty.
 
Mark,

John is right on with his answer. This style was mainly used by Germanic peoples of the Renaissance. Why a ring rather than something straight is unknown. Possibly just for cosmetics.:)

Gary
 
I'm also very curious... i'm sure that the ring piece choice has to follow some function.
In recent times the ring guard used to be the bajonet attachment, back in the quillon-dagger-period maybe had some place in the context of the worn harnesses .
 
Last edited:
As far as I know it's only function was protecting the hand but with historical pieces it's sometimes hard to tell. Often history doesn't record everything.

Gary
 
Very cool piece! Can't wait to see it in person.

The ring has the advantage of allowing the thumb to rest up on the ricasso which is how a left handed quillion dagger was held. Many of them even had a thumbprint divot on the ricasso.

-HD
 
DesRosiers said:
Very cool piece! Can't wait to see it in person.

The ring has the advantage of allowing the thumb to rest up on the ricasso which is how a left handed quillion dagger was held. Many of them even had a thumbprint divot on the ricasso.

-HD
Click to expand...

That's what also i believed, but then browsing through publications about rapier fencing i happend to see antique drawings depicting the use of the dagger ring guard on the backhand side, i.e. opposite the thumb resting side, hence protecting the knuckles while pushing aside the opponent thrust. I have also seen drawings where it was used as Haley said!!
The question is still opened, and it is a very interesting subject :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top