Medieval Dagger VS Dagger Knife

The point of a dagger knife is extremely sharp, and it usually has two sharp edges. Daggers, typically designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon, have been used in close combat throughout human history and frequently served as supplementary defense weapons.

Daggers typically have a short blade with a sharply tapered point, a central spine or fuller, and two cutting edges that are sharpened the entire length of the blade. A complete crossguard is standard on most daggers.

After disappearing during the Early Middle Ages and being replaced by the hewing knife or seax, the term dagger reappears only in the Late Middle Ages.

What is The Difference Between Dagger and Knife?

The term "knife" refers to a tool used for cutting and stabbing. The distinction between a knife and a dagger is that daggers are always symmetrical when viewed from the side, and both sharp edges always point down. So a dagger is a type of knife, and any knife can be classified as a tactical dagger knife if it meets certain criteria.

History of Dagger

In Neolithic times, the earliest daggers were constructed of flint, ivory, or bone. Copper daggers were initially discovered in the early Bronze Age, with early Minoan samples found at Knossos (2400–2000 BC). Iron daggers were esteemed at the same level as their ceremonial gold equivalents in Egypt. From the 5th through the 3rd century BC, artisans and blacksmiths in Iberia (today's Spain and France) manufactured a variety of iron daggers and high-quality swords. During the Roman Empire, legionaries were issued a pugio, a double-edged iron thrusting dagger with a blade length of 7–12 inches.

Most men and women wore a tiny knife in a sheath as part of their daily attire and used it as an all-purpose dining utensil and tool during the Middle Ages. The dagger was known as the "knightly dagger" in the 12th century, or more accurately, the cross-hilt or quillon dagger. Many of these cross-hilt daggers have crossguards and pommels that look like small swords from the period. In the 14th century, the knightly dagger evolved into the bigger baselard knife.

With the introduction of protective plate armor, the dagger became more valuable as a close-in weapon for piercing armor gaps. As a result, fighting methods had to change to allow the sword to penetrate or push through an opponent's chain mail or plate armor.

What Are The Different Types of Daggers And Knives

On the other hand, knives are usually single-edged and designed for cutting rather than stabbing. On the other hand, many knives and daggers can either stab or cut (although many thrusting knives have been described as daggers, including those that feature only a single cutting edge, such as the European rondel dagger or the Persian pesh-kabz).

Daggers from the Middle Ages can be divided into three categories:

Anelace

In 14th century England, a ring from the girdle was used to suspend a medieval long dagger or a very short sword. Sloane MS (about 1400) recorded a song mocking the fashion trend of enormous baselard blades.

Baselard

A late Middle Ages historical form of dagger or short sword. It has an I-shaped handle that evolved from a knightly dagger from the 13th century. Baselards were a popular sidearm carried by the more violent portion of civilian society and were originally a Middle French or Medieval Latin version of the German Basler [messer] "Basel knife."

Poignard

A small, light dagger that's best for stabbing in close quarters or tandem with a dagger. The upper class, noblemen, and knighthood wore this long, lightweight thrusting knife with an acutely pointed blade and crossguard in the past.

Misericorde

A long, narrow knife used to inflict the death strike (or mercy stroke) to a badly wounded knight since the High Middle Ages.

Rondel

From merchants to knights, various people wore a stiff-bladed dagger around their waists and may have used it as a utility item. The round (or octagonal) handguard and round or spherical pommel give the dagger its name.

Bollock dagger

Between the 13th and 18th centuries, a dagger style with a distinctively formed hilt and two oval swellings at the guard mimicking male testes were popular. The bollock dagger was often carried in Britain as a backup to the lance and sword.

Using Daggers & Knives

Gravestones and artwork from the year 1250 onward depict knights with a dagger or fighting knife.

During the 14th century, knights began to battle on foot to reinforce the infantry defensive line, necessitating daggers. Archers used them to dispatch dismounted knights at Agincourt (1415), for example, by pushing the narrow blades into helmet vents and other apertures.

Black dagger knife are described as being held in hand with the blade facing downward from the heel of the hand and used to make downward jabs in instruction books. Johannes Liechtenauer and his successors taught fighting with the dagger in the German fencing school, emphasizing thrusting strokes.

Because the blade had to penetrate steel chain mail or plate armor when used offensively. The reverse or icepick grip was frequently utilized, striking downward with the blade to maximize thrust and penetrative force. The downside was that a variety of tactics might easily block the attack. Adopting a reverse grip also resulted in a shorter effective blade reach towards the opponent.

As armor became less popular, dagger combat styles evolved to emphasize the conventional or forward grasp when attacking an unsuspecting opponent from behind. Still, the reverse or icepick grip was kept when striking an unsuspecting opponent from behind.

Famous Daggers and Where to See Them

Here are several well-known daggers, as well as the locations where you can see them.

French Dagger

From 1400 to 1600 AD, this dagger was largely employed as a weapon, both offensively and defensively, rather than as a utensil. This dagger is composed of steel, bronze, and bone and is French. It can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Mary Rose Bollock Dagger

Part of a set of bollock daggers discovered on board the Mary Rose, a carrack-type battleship of King Henry VIII's English Tudor navy, which may be seen at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. 

Rondell Dagger

Corrosion has discolored the blade of this French Rondell dagger, but it is still whole. It was made between 1440 and 1450 AD. Although these daggers are commonly seen in illuminations, examples are rare. However, it can be located in London's Wallace Collection.

Thoughts

Except for ceremonial purposes, modern combat has rendered daggers obsolete. However, they are still popular among fighting specialists and personal protective equipment. Knives are a useful tool for various outdoor activities, including camping and modern fighting. In contrast, daggers will always be associated with ancient warfare. Each fixed blade knife has a long history and is a sought-after collector's item. If you want to purchase a good quality dagger knife at an affordable price, we have it here at Evatac! We sells the best dagger knife for any outdoor or survival situation.