This excavated Left-Hand Spanish Parrying Dagger was found near Cape Canaveral Florida. The 4 1/2 inch hilt has a large scent-stopper shaped pommel, a cross-guard (quillon) with turned down finials and a ring guard (anneau). The 9 1/2 inch needle-point blade has two grooves (fullers) on each side or a hollow ground cross-section.
This excavated Left-Hand Parrying Dagger was found at an undisclosed location. The 5 1/2 inch hilt has turned down finials on the cross-guard (quillon) and a side ring guard (anneau) fitted with an openwork metal plate the pommel is missing. The 14 3/4 inch spear point blade has a diamond shaped cross section.
This excavated Left-Hand Spanish Parrying Dagger was reportedly found near the Rio Grande river in New Mexico. It may date from exploration of the area by Coronado 1540-1542. The 5 inch hilt has a large scent-stopper shaped pommel, a curved cross-guard (quillon) and a side ring guard (anneau) fitted with an openwork metal plate. The previous owner stabilized the side ring plate using solder. The 13 3/4 inch needle-point blade has two grooves (fullers) on each side.
This excavated Left-Hand Parrying Dagger or Short Sword, was reportedly found near the Rio Grande river in New Mexico. It may date from exploration of the area by Coronado 1540-1542. The 5 3/8 inch hilt has a large scent-stopper shaped pommel, a curved cross-guard (quillon) and a ring guard (anneau) with a turned down finial. The 14 inch spear point blade has three grooves (fullers) on each side.
This excavated Left-Hand Parrying Dagger was found at an undisclosed location. The 5 1/2 inch hilt has a large plum shaped pommel, turned down finials on the cross-guard (quillon) and a side ring guard (anneau) fitted with an pierced metal plate. The 13 inch needle-point blade has diamond shaped cross section.
This excavated Left-Hand Parrying Dagger was found at an undisclosed location on the west coast of Florida. The 4 inch hilt has a large flat oval pommel, an S-shaped cross-guard (quillon) and a side ring guard (anneau). The blade is 13 3/4 inches long and has a diamond shape cross section.
Rondel daggers take their name from the two round disks (rondels) that form their guard (1). This one was found in London`s Thames River, and purchased by Frederick Eugene Williams III (known as Jack Williams) while he was visiting England in 1995.. It dates from the mid-14th century. The overall length of the dagger is 12 1/2 inches. The 8 1/4-inch needle-point blade is diamond-shaped with hollow grounds. The guard and pommel are made of brass. An engraving of what looks like a nine-point star can just be made out on the blade side of the guard. The pommel has four petal-shaped segments engraved with lines. Long narrow daggers like this one are designed for thrusting, piercing, and stabbing. The thin, sharp point can fit through gaps in armor, and penetrate leather or heavy fabric.
Rondel daggers were worn suspended on the right side of the belt or slung from the front of it. There is some evidence to suggest that rondel daggers were popular with the emerging middle class in the mid-15th century. Merchants and tradesmen can be seen wearing them in a painting by Girat de Roussillon circa 1448 (2).
