Product description
The so-called bollock dagger, also known as ballock dagger or kidney dagger, owes its quite peculiar name to the two distinctive spherical / egg-shaped protrusions or bulges that form the guard and lend the hilt an explicitly phallic appearance. This particular type of medieval dagger was in use all over Europe and appeared in a myriad of variations over the course of its unusually long lifespan, which lasted from the late Middle Ages (14th c.) throughout the Renaissance. On the British Isles, it even subsisted until as late as the 17th / 18th c. in modified forms (dudgeon dagger in England and dirk in Scotland).
Usually carried as a companion sidearm to a sword or rapier, this thrusting weapon enjoyed great popularity with knights, as its sharply tapered blade with pointed tip was ideal for piercing padded armour and chain mail or stabbing the opponent through the joints of his plate armour in close-quarters combat. But beside of being a lethal implement, it was also used as a fashionable display of wealth, and knights and well-to-do townsmen often ostentatiously carried their artfully crafted and richly ornamented daggers as a status symbol.
This beautiful, stylish reconstruction of a 16th century German dagger features an EN45 spring steel blade that has a diamond cross-section and tapers evenly to an acute point. The cutting edges are not sharpened and the tang is screwed to the pommel. The handle with characteristic lobed guard is carved from one single piece of wood and reinforced with antiqued brass fittings – a butt cap adorned with crosses and an equally ornate, downturned guard plate with ram's head finials.
This knightly dagger comes complete with a vegetable-tanned, neatly stitched leather sheath equipped with a leather cord for attachment to a belt. The cross and ram's head symbols adorning the butt cap and guard plate are repeated on the handsome antiqued brass chape. This Renaissance dagger is designed as a collector’s or decoration/display piece and, besides its quality as a collectible, it is also perfectly suited as a prop, e.g. to complete your costume.
Details:
Material: EN45 spring steel blade (high carbon steel, not stainless), antiqued brass pommel and guard plate, wooden handle
Overall length: approx. 36.5 cm
Blade length: approx. 22.2 cm
Blade thickness: approx. 5 mm / 3.5 mm (cutting edges approx. 0.6 mm)
Hilt length: approx. 14.3 cm / 16.5 cm with finials (grip approx. 9 cm)
Max. blade width: approx. 1.4 cm
Point of balance: approx. -1.5 cm (on the grip, at guard level)
Incl. genuine leather sheath with antiqued brass chape and leather cord
Weight without sheath: approx. 200 g
Weight with sheath: approx. 260 g
Based on a historical original
Shipment weight (g): 500 *
We do not sell this product to customers under the age of 18. Click here for more information on the European arms acts.
This item is produced in limited quantities only. This means that every piece is unique. Sizes & finish may vary lightly from piece to piece.
Tip: How to adjust the finish of your armour and weaponry
Luxurious (polished)- polish the steel with metal polish or toothpaste. You can even give the item a mirror-like polish. Test on a small surface first!
Handmade (matte)- soak the steel in cola for 40 minutes to 20 hours. Check regularly and treat with black sandpaper.
Antique (patinated) leave the steel to rust for some time in a damp environment, preferably outside. Remove the red layer of rust, to reveal the corroded top layer.
Please note. After finishing the product yourself, the warranty and return right expire. Celtic WebMerchant is not responsible for the obtained result."
When packaging this item, we exclusively use 100% recycled plastic and recycled paper/cardboard from FSC certified forests. We reuse a large part of the material directly without the intervention of a recycling process.
Recycle the material by separating your waste:
1. Cardboard: separate or reuse your paper.
2. Plastic cushions, clothing bags and plastic tape: separate or reuse your plastic. If possible, pierce the cushions with a volume reduction needle.
3. Paper packaging for jewelry and small items: these have a plastic inner layer. Remove these, then separate your paper and plastic.
Read here about how we are committed to sustainability.
