Tod Cutler – 14th Century Medieval English Knights Rondel Dagger

Rondel daggers were medieval military anti-armour daggers that were often long and heavy, which are fine for the battlefield, but less comfortable around court or when you were wearing your finery. For those moments a smaller, more subtle, but no less lethal knife was appropriate.  This rondel dagger is modeled after a great example of these dated to 1400-1430 and found in the Thames. The dagger features a hollow ground blade of tempered high carbon steel, twisted barley corn grip and hollow top and bottom steel rondels with repousse decoration – the interior of the guard and pommel are hollow so as to ensure the dagger will not be poorly balanced in the hilt. Such a dagger would have been right at home at the side of a knight or noble, but would also not be unusual to see among a professional soldier of middling status who valued investments in his own gear.

A low to middle status soldier, knight or archers dagger with fabricated hollow rondels so it won’t overbalance and a strong single edged blade with a reinforced point. This dagger is quite thick and rigid and would have excelled at piercing thick clothing or breaking between, into and through the weaker points of an armored harness. Included with the dagger is a high quality sheath of vegetable tanned leather complete with a brass cap.