a sail guard left hand dagger

[M ELEY]

I also don't remember seeing this beauty! Glad Fernando posted on it, bringing it back to life! A superb example. I've seen swords with the so-called 'crab-claw' construction for catching an opponent's blade, but never on a parrying dagger before. Makes sense. So...is it a main gauche?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... So...is it a main gauche?

For the French, yes. Daga de mano izquierda for the Spanish, agada de mão esquerda for the Portuguese.
As this one has its guard in the form of a sail, the Spaniards would call it daga de vela de mano izquierda .

[CSinTX]

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on this piece. It really is great. I took some additional pictures this afternoon. Feel free to discuss. As you can see from the guard, it appears the blade was likely replaced during it's working life.

[CSinTX]

Blade mark.

[fernando]

Ah ... now we have to distinct provenances; and may i guess the blade might have been shortened from a sword (rapier?) one, both due to its unusual (?) tapering and mainly due to the advanced position of the makers mark .
A mark that doesn't appear to be Spanish; none of the Toledo smith marks in the Palomar chart seem to have such symbol and those are usually puntched inside an estucheon. Didn't find it in Wallace Collection book, either. Maybe Italian ?

[ulfberth]

Originally Posted by fernando

Ah ... now we have to distinct provenances; and may i guess the blade might have been shortened from a sword (rapier?) one, both due to its unusual (?) tapering and mainly due to the advanced position of the makers mark .
A mark that doesn't appear to be Spanish; none of the Toledo smith marks in the Palomar chart seem to have such symbol and those are usually puntched inside an estucheon. Didn't find it in Wallace Collection book, either. Maybe Italian ?

Hi Fernando,

as you, Jim also suggested this and the dagger certainly looks Italian.
The hilt reminds of the style of the Italian crab claw hilts as does the sail guard.
Furthermore, this dagger was found in untouched condition together with a similar dagger which is almost certainly Italian, it bears a + mark on its ricasso which I found in the book "waffen des abendlandes" on page 40 its described as Italian 16th C collection Dal Pozzo Mailand.
Note that the rings on the grip are the same style to.
I hope Casey is able to post some pictures of this example to.

kind regards

Ulfberth

[fernando]

You are right ulfberth, i skipped that previous opinion because i was much influenced by the shell shape engraving on the guard, as i also previously noted.
And ... what do you say about the blade having been longer and that of a sword ?

[CSinTX]

Originally Posted by ulfberth

Furthermore, this dagger was found in untouched condition together with a similar dagger which is almost certainly Italian, it bears a + mark on its ricasso

I hope Casey is able to post some pictures of this example to.

kind regards

Ulfberth

Yes, perhaps the best thing about this dagger is that it has a sibling which contains it's original blade. Either made by the same smith or no doubt from the same shop. Amazing to be found together after so many years.

Here is the only picture that I had a chance to resize. It may be a few days for the rest.