Dagger Blade, How Long is Too Long

David Mary

David Mary

pass the mustard - after you cut it
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Hiya guys. Posing deep existential questions for the philosophers among us. Love to hear your thoughts on this one. Thanks.
 
David Mary said:
Matt Easton. Been checking out his content periodically for a few years now. The guy is super informative and put together. I will have to give this a watch when I can. Thanks!
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Yup, Captain Context has some great info. So does Tod Cutler: lots of youtube videos about historical daggers, among other things.
 
I think it also has to do with blade shape and balance. I have several knives with blades over 12" long that I still think of as a knife. A feel that a dagger is over 6" of blade but that as the length increases it doesn't affect the forward balance in such a way as a larger knife would. That is to say, for example: let's say that a dagger is 4" long with a POB about right at the guard making it much more neutral. If you elongated that to say 8" and the POB was only just in front of the guard meaning that you didn't cram a bunch of heavy steel into the blade, I would call that a dagger. It would most likely be designed for piercing or slashing but not chopping.

I tend to think as anything 12" and under of blade is a dagger. Over that, and you are starting to get into sword territory. Once the blade gets heavy enough to do the cutting by weight alone, I think you are there (when we are talking about double edge swords or the like).
 
In my mind a boot knife would have a blade between 3 and 5 inches and a dagger would be 5 to 11 inches but I think 9 would probably be the max for a modern dagger. If you are going classic or historical, longer would probably have been pretty common.
 
Svord Hog Beater
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Specifications​

  • Blade Length: 11-1/4"
  • Overall Length: 17"
  • Blade Thickness: 3.5 mm to 5 mm (exact specs may vary)
  • Steel Material: Swedish l-6
  • Full Tang Construction
  • Leather Sheath with Vertical-Carry Belt Loop
  • Weight without Sheath: 23.7 ounces (672 grams)
  • RC Hardness: 58
  • Weight with Sheath: 32.3 ounces (916 grams)
  • Handcrafted in New Zealand
 
I guess it depends on the time period. I have a XIX century dictionary that defines daggers as having a blade 1/3 the length of the accompanying sword blade.
 
And then there is the Cinquedea. I have the Cold Steel version, which clocks in at 14 1/4" blade, 20 1/4" overall. It really is at the transition point between dagger/dirk and short sword, but the width of the forte pushes it over onto the sword side of the goal post. With all the weight back towards the hilt, it's incredibly lively in the hand for it's weight. I use a KaBar Zomstro for yardwork that's a few ounces lighter but swings like a truck, the Cinquedea is more like a sports car.
 
David Mary said:
Posing deep existential questions
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"With a bare Bodkin? Who would Fardels bear, [F: these Fardels]"

I prefer the term "Bodkin" when speaking of a dagger used to deal with life's little "Fardels" ! 🧐

For practical carry , even 8" might be too much for some to CC .

Less than ~4" , IMO becomes much less effective .
 
I just realized how little I know
 
There are several great books old and new on swords and related tools, but even memorizing them all will only scratch the surface.
 
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