Item
Physical Object
Left-Hand Spanish Parrying Dagger
- Object Name/Title
- Left-Hand Spanish Parrying Dagger
- Catalog Number
- 111-0056
- Physical Description
- This excavated left-hand parrying dagger exemplifies the sophisticated defensive weapons of Renaissance Spain. The weapon features a distinctive needle-point blade with diamond-shaped cross-section, engineered for precise parrying and counter-attacks. Notable features include a substantial plum-shaped pommel and specialized cross-guard (quillon) with turned-down finials integrated with a side ring guard (anneau), demonstrating the advanced metallurgical and defensive developments of the period. The grip is currently missing, indicating potential archaeological degradation.
- Dagger Type
- Left-Hand Parrying Dagger (Main type), Ring/Anneau style (Fr)
- Maker/Workshop
- Unknown craftsperson, Spanish
- Date of Creation
- Circa 1530
- Component Materials
-
Blade: Steel
Guard: Steel with pierced metal plate
Pommel: Steel
Grip: Unknown (missing) - Measurements
-
Overall length: 17 1/2 inches (44.45 cm)
Overall width: 5 3/4 inches (14.61 cm)
Hilt length: 4 1/2 inches (11.43 cm)
Blade length: 13 inches (33.02 cm)
Weight: 1 lb 1/4 oz (481.94 g) - Edge Configuration
- Double-edged with diamond-shaped cross-section
- Guard Type
- Quillons with turned-down finials and integrated side ring (anneau) guard, fitted with pierced metal plate
- Pommel Details
- Large plum-shaped pommel
- Object History
- This dagger was recovered through archaeological excavation at an undisclosed location. Left-hand daggers of this type were essential companion weapons to the rapier in 16th century Spanish martial arts, representing a sophisticated system of civilian combat and self-defense that spread throughout Europe during the Renaissance period.
- Subject Terms
- Spanish weapons; Left-hand daggers; Parrying daggers; Archaeological finds; 16th century arms; Renaissance weapons; Main gauche; Companion weapons
- Temporal and Spatial Coverage
-
Temporal: Early 16th Century (Circa 1530)
Spatial: Spain (tentative attribution)
- Related Collections
- The F.E. Williams III Collection of Antique Weapons and Artifacts
- Collection Attribution
- Frederick Eugene Williams III (known as Jack Williams), Collector
- Rights Statement
- © weaponscollector.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Attribution required: "From the F.E. Williams III Collection at weaponscollector.com
