"Ring-pommel" dagger
Cultureperhaps
English
Dateabout 1460
Mediumsteel, iron and wood
Dimensions31.8 × 18.4 cm (12 1/2 × 7 1/4 in.), 6 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.443
DescriptionExcavated condition, probably a Thames find. Triangular, double-edged blade of lozenge section, with a flat tang that tapers to its ends, the top of which is octagonally shaped and pierced through with a circular hole. At the shoulders of the blade is a thin, octagonal rondel of iron, gently concave towards the grip. Behind this was once a wooden backing, of which a portion survives. At this point, the tang is pierced by a transverse rivet that helped secure the backing in place, and another rivet extends from the rondel parallel to the blade. Running along both sides of the grip at right angles to the tang is an outwardly curving piece of iron bar stock, curved to match the centrally swollen shape of the grip. One end of each of these butted against the wooden rondel backing. The other end passes into the "pommel" which is formed by pierced octagons of wood on either side of the octagonal tang end, each capped with a pierced octagonal iron plate.Label TextThis dagger is a weapon for civilian self-defense, though the pierced ring at the pommel may derive from earlier military daggers, which sometimes were secured to the armor by a chain.ProvenanceNot known, but possibly recovered from the Thames. Purchased from Peter Finer (England) on December 3, 1999. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
On viewCollections
about 1600–1650
