Dagger Rondel with No Peen

[Sean M]

Over on his vlog, Tod (piped) or (youtube) is pondering how the upper rondel on a dagger hilt was constructed. In Tod's experience steel rondels are usually two discs brazed together, but this one has no visible peen attaching it to the whittle tang. Does anyone have thoughts on how they would approach the problem?

Both he and Toby have the idea that because this knife is big and heavy it must have been a military weapon. In art from the time I am most interested in, knights usually carry a dagger with about a 6" to 8" blade. Really big knives tend to be worn by people out of armour who can't wear a sword and armour to show they are manly men (you see a lot of big daggers on gentlemen at the Burgundian court in the late 15th century). The short blade would also save ounces and ensure that when your lance and sword are no good and you need a dagger, you can get it out and into your opponent immediately.

[Marshal]

Either the bottom half of the top rondel was peened and then the top half brazed on covering the peen, or there's a peg like a mekugi under those brass bits on the hilt.

[Sean M]

Either the bottom half of the top rondel was peened and then the top half brazed on covering the peen, or there's a peg like a mekugi under those brass bits on the hilt.

Any idea how you would avoid scorching the wood on the handle when you brazed the discs together? Maybe wrap it in wet rags?

Toby might be able to have the dagger X-rayed. I like the idea that the brass appliques are hiding something.

[Mac]

Any idea how you would avoid scorching the wood on the handle when you brazed the discs together? Maybe wrap it in wet rags?

Toby might be able to have the dagger X-rayed. I like the idea that the brass appliques are hiding something.

If the disc is brazed together after peening the lower plate to the tang, the wood of the handle would have to be attached afterward as two pieces. I think what we see of the handle is consistent with that idea.

Mac

[Sean M]

The little brass doohickeys could be hiding the rivet that holds the two wooden scales to the iron tang

[Rene K.]

Any idea how you would avoid scorching the wood on the handle when you brazed the discs together? Maybe wrap it in wet rags?

Toby might be able to have the dagger X-rayed. I like the idea that the brass appliques are hiding something.

If the disc is brazed together after peening the lower plate to the tang, the wood of the handle would have to be attached afterward as two pieces. I think what we see of the handle is consistent with that idea.

Mac

What Mac said, the handle was attached to the tang after finishing the matal part. Maybe the handle has an opening to the side under the second brass piece. The rivet with the decorative washers makes sense to hold the handle in place.
Bracing the discs of the pomel together means an more extreme heat than soldering it with tin, and remember the techniques they had, they made it in a coal fire. That means the wooden handle would not survive this process.