The Armour Archive

Harkening back the old Weapons board -Yay!

My Rondel Dagger
This is the final permutation of a project that began almost two years ago, and has been worked on in fits and starts ever since. I learned a lot, making it -mostly through a Series of Unfortunate EventsTM. For instance -don't try to bring an 18" dagger-shaped piece of steel to critical temperature with nothing but a cutting torch. That happens to be why my dagger is now 15".

I'm very happy with how it turned out. I went into this project with an eye for accuracy, but I was not particularly slavish, so I wound up witha few questionable details that, were I to do it over, I'd fix. This is my way of saying that I won't at all be offended to hear your nitpicks; I'd like to learn more, too.

So, without further adieu: the pictures!

[img]http://home.armourarchive.org/members/dstchdo/Rondel_Dagger/Rondel_Dagger1.jpg[/img]
The dagger itself, sitting on a one inch cube of chalk for perspective and to give it a better angle.

View of the spine and false edge...

A close-up of the hilt...

And by now you've no doubt noticed the irregular shape of the pommel rondel... So... Voila!
[img]http://home.armourarchive.org/members/dstchdo/Rondel_Dagger/Rondel_Dagger3.jpg[/img]
THAT took forever and a day to carve out. But, if everyone can tell that it's a rose, I think it was well worth it.

and finally, sighting down the blade...


I hope you like it. Questions, comments and criticism welcome.

very nice! Does it have a sharp edge? I like flattened diamond or triangular cross-section roundel blades more, but this is very nice.
-Mag

You can't tell from the pictures, but it actualy *does* have a trianglular cross-section.
Since I don't like "appleseed" edges and I sharpen on the entire primary bevel, I put that shallow fuller into the blade as a sharpening expedient. So yes, it's *very* sharp. It's a little unsettling how overtly lethal this type of weapon is when it's sharp.

It's also very heavy! I had no idea a rondel dagger would be so stout. With the little disks, I thought sure it would be a lightweight. On the contrary, it weighs in at 1.3 lbs, and the point of balance is right behind my index finger. For a knife, that's positively robust!

That is a very nice implement of war.

I have been looking for a nice rondel dagger for some time, just haven't found one that made me say "I have to have that." Your peice here is just about there.

Jehan, squire of Sir Vitus

very nice- love the pommel

Whats the pommel made from?

Thanks Jehan, Allen.


Paul -it was originaly a scrapped piece of 30 year-old structural channel that happened to be handy when I went hunting for something to cut with my hole-saw. I strongly suspect it's mild steel. Aside from one or two frustratingly hard spots that could have come from impurities or local variances in the carbon content, it worked like mild steel.
So I'm going to call it 5/16" mild steel plate.

interesting characteristics indeed, Destichado!
When I said triangular cross-section, I meant more along the lines of an equilateral triangle. You dagger clearly has a thick spine, lending it an acute triangular cross-section

Man, Thats nice. Great work! ...Otto

Can anyone tell me if the false edge I put on is correct or not?
When I ground that in, I had just finished looking at a few dozen pictures of dirks, and for some reason I though sure that rondel daggers had a similar false edge, but I haven't seen any evidence of that since.

I'm not sure whether or not to regret having done it. Does anyone here know, for or against?

Great stuff, D, bravo.

Now get to work on one for me ...

In the realm of false edges on roundel daggers, I offer this; it is based on a fresco which I am sure you can look up. Alternatively, you could email the folks at Arms & Armour and ask them if they know of any pictoral evidence/images of originals with that element available online.
-Mag =)