1711) A FINE GILDED AND DECORATED SAXON LEFT-HAND DAGGER CIRCA 1580 WITH PIERCED DOUBLE FULLERED BLADE: 

Description: Constructed with a tapering pierced blade of stiff-diamond section, two long deep fullers, and strong medial ridge, rectangular ricasso fullered and hollowed for the thumb on the inner, iron gilded hilt comprising a pair of swelling quillons, side-ring swelling slightly towards the center, and flattened barrel-shaped pommel with a slight taper, eel skin shagreen grip. Retaining a leather-covered wooden scabbard with iron lockets, chape, and a loop on the inner side to attach to a belt. Total length: 15 inches (38 CM). Condition: Good.

Discussion: Left-hand daggers were an important part of the fencing strategy used in conjunction with the rapier. The left-hand dagger was used to parry, block, trap, and redirect the opponent’s sword or weapon to create an opening for the rapier to administer the “coup de grace.” However, a good swordsman could reverse the rolls and use the rapier to set up the left-hand dagger for the finishing strike. In the past, swords were much heavier and cumbersome since opponents on the battlefield used armor. Since the rapier and left hand dagger was a civilian implement of defense with no armor involved, the sword could be much lighter and wielded more effectively with one hand. Left-hand daggers were usually made with three different hilt types:

1) Cruciform shape. The quillons were horizontal stout, long and some swelled at the tips.
2) Bent downwards. To trap the opponent’s blade with a simple twist of the wrist, most left-hand daggers had downward bent quillons. Downward-turned quillons also redirected the opponent’s blade to create an opening to attack.
3) Opposite bend. In some less common examples, one quillon was turned downwards to trap the opponent’s blade, and the other quillon bent in the opposite direction, facing upwards, to function as a knuckle guard to protect the swordsman’s hand.

Conclusion: This is a superbly constructed and elegant left-hand dagger and remarkably inexpensively priced at under $3.5!. All collections should have at least one in their collection.

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