Item
Physical Object
Left-Hand Spanish Parrying Dagger
- Object Name/Title
- Left-Hand Spanish Parrying Dagger
- Catalog Number
- 111-0068
- Physical Description
- This archaeological specimen represents a classic Left-Hand Parrying Dagger featuring a long, slender blade with a diamond-shaped cross-section designed for both defense and counter-attacks. The dagger exhibits characteristic Spanish styling from the early 16th century with its ring guard (anneau) configuration. While showing signs of age from excavation, the dagger retains its essential structural elements though missing its original pommel plate and grip. The weapon was designed to be held in the left hand while wielding a rapier in the right, serving both as a defensive implement for parrying incoming attacks and as an offensive weapon for close-quarter combat.
- Dagger Type
-
Left-Hand Parrying Dagger (Main type)
Ring/Anneau style (Sub-type) - Maker/Workshop
- Unknown craftsperson, Spanish
- Date of Creation
- Circa 1530
- Component Materials
-
Blade: Steel
Guard: Steel with openwork metal plate
Pommel: Incomplete (metal plate missing)
Grip: Missing - Measurements
-
Overall length: 20 1/4 inches (51.4 cm)
Overall width: 5 1/8 inches (13 cm)
Hilt length: 5 1/2 inches (14 cm)
Blade length: 14 3/4 inches (37.5 cm)
Weight: 9 1/2 ounces (269.3 g) - Edge Configuration
- Diamond-shaped cross-section spear point blade
- Guard Type
- Cross-guard (quillon) with turned-down finials and side ring guard (anneau)
- Pommel Details
- Original openwork metal plate pommel missing
- Object History
- This specimen was recovered through archaeological excavation at an undisclosed location. The dagger represents a significant example of early 16th-century Spanish military and civilian arms, particularly associated with the development of sophisticated fencing techniques incorporating paired weapons.
- Subject Terms
- Spanish weapons; Left-hand daggers; Archaeological finds; 16th century arms; Parrying daggers; Ring guard daggers; Main gauche; Companion weapons
- Temporal and Spatial Coverage
-
Temporal: Early 16th Century
Spatial: Spain (probable origin) - 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
