What is the definition of "dagger"?

H

Horus

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Apr 10, 2001
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Meanwhile the number of knife pics which I have copied from the internet counts more than 2000. So by the reason of clarity I started to categorize the pics today. One category I choose is "dagger", but I am not sure what exactly definite a dagger. Is a dagger categorically double edged or can a dagger also be single edged? The following pics (unfortunately not my knives) show what I mean.

d2.jpg


d1.jpg
 
In my opinion a dagger is a knife that has the same sharpened profile on both edges of the blade. A knife with that description is what most States have deemed illegal. Thank God for Arizona.
 
yep, thats how I consider it, a dagger has two sharpened edges, symmetrically ground. The top knife pictured is a dirk, and the bottom knife is a push-knife, but not a push-dagger ( unless my eyes are off today :)) Nice knives too. -- Charles
 
In California the law decribes a dagger as "Any readily available stabbing weapon"

you know

like a pencil, or a pointy stick

FEAR MY MAD WICKED POINTED STICK!! GRRRRRRRR!:p
 
Are you looking for a legal definition or a practical one? Many states don't clearly define the terms dirk or dagger past the vague notion of a stabbing implement. Practically it should be a double edged blade. Historically, some "daggers" were single edged but very similar in profile.
 
I have categories for my pic collection too, and to tell you the truth, the categories have changed as the pics got added.

Technically, I'd call the upper knife a dirk and the bottom one is called a push dagger, though it isn't double edged. You could create an "other" category and stick those knives in it. Otherwise, I'd stick push daggers in with daggers, but no tthat Scottish piece.
 
The definition that I have read is that a dagger is a one-handed stabbing weapon with a symmetrical blade. It can be double-edged, edgeless, cruciform, or tri-angular, but all the edges/sides should be the same. A non-symmetrical stabbing weapon would be classed as a dirk. This is particularly true of a blade that is symmetrical in silouette, but is not sharpened the same on all edges.
 
I think a dagger can be single-edged at times, (such as a Benchmade 46 Bali-Song or a Single-Edged punch dagger.)

To me, what really defines a dagger is a spear point with very symmetrical sides (Hence, something like a Spyderco Native or Benchmade Ares, doesn't qualify).

It's one of those things where you really have to use your judgement.
 
Hmmm ... seemingly no hard and fast rule. I think I follow the opinion of YoungCutter and set my own criteria. Many thanks for your answers!

@Crayola: Good to read that other members also collect knife pics. :)
 
IMO, it has to be double edged, sleek and symmetrical. ;)

Here is an example of a folding dagger.
 
Originally posted by YoungCutter
OMG RGRAY!

That Damascus/Ivory folder is SOOOOOO sexy!
Click to expand...

Agreed 1001%!!! Oh to be able to buy such a thing!

Oh yeah... My Benchmade 350BT has a very symetrical spear point blade, and a very same handle... UH OH!!! It is illegal in this state! (Maybe)....
 
This is the last dagger I had, a Jerry Rados made, solid MOP handle and damascus blade (of course its Rados damascus). Unfortunately I no longer have it as I traded it for a decorated lg Classic Sebenza. If only all trades could be for knives like this...:cool:
 
Dagger is often regarded as symmetrically ground double edge knife that's only good for stabbing, and not very good for slashing.
I'm not familiar with the exact definition of a Dirk... anyone care to enlighten me?
I'd call the second from the picture a push dagger, but it's not really a dagger blade. I've also seen on TV (discovery channel) that the OSS back in WW2 has a push dagger that has a cylindrical profile and good for stabbing only and no slashing. However because it's has a three finger ring, it's supposed to be able to exert a lot of force on a body.
 
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