I have been a long time away from this site and this interest, but recently finished this piece and wanted to share it.

This is based on an original in the Wallace Collection, which is one of the most beautiful weapons I have ever seen. It is pictured in "Arms and Armor of the Medieval Knight" by David Edge and John Miles Paddock, on p. 150. This is the only extant photograph I can find of it, and being a copyrighted image it would be dubious for me to post a scan of it here. I have searched online and have found no other photos, I would very much appreciate any leads to other images of it that anyone can offer.

A catalog of arms in the collection by Guy Francis Laking lists it as:
"127. Dagger. The pommel is of fleur-de-lys shape; small drooping quillons ending in spirally fluted knobs. Dec.: none. Horn grip of hexagonal section narrowing to fit the base of the pommel. The blade, 12-1/2 ins. long, of diamond section, back edged and grooved 2-7/8 ins. from the hilt. Probably German, about 1530 (1109)"

Blade is 5160, @ 1/4" thick, pommel, guard and ferrules are forged/fabricated from mild steel, and the assembly is peened. 12-3/4" blade, 17-3/4" overall. I apologize for the poor picture quality, I have better ones but they are too big to post here and my resizing/editing software is giving me fits.

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That's fantastic, Justin! Absolutely gorgeous!

Well I'll be damned, since my visit to the Wallace Collection earlier this year I'm waiting for my replica of this particular dagger.
Wonderful piece, looks great.
There is a picture on the Wallace Collection Website - this is Dagger A811 a search for that should bring it right up - but that is just a view from above, not much detail on that one.

I'll add one of the pictures I took of that dagger but that one - like all of the ones I took at the Collection - is rather blurry.
Picture
Apart from the colour of the handle, your replica looks spot on to me.
Now I'm looking forward to my version of this dagger even more then just 5 minutes ago.
You don't happen to want to get rid of this one? I'd know someone who really likes it ;)

Lovely work Justin, I have loved that dagger since I first saw it.

I tried to make a replica a few years ago but bodged it and never had another chance; really good to see someone make a great success of it.

Tod

Thank you guys! Having beat my brains out trying to visualize the parts of this not shown in the single photo I have, I would give most of my right leg to see the original in person, or my foot at least for some detailed photos. Then again, a little mystery goes a long ways for creative inspiration.

Marik C.S. wrote:

Well I'll be damned, since my visit to the Wallace Collection earlier this year I'm waiting for my replica of this particular dagger. Wonderful piece, looks great. There is a picture on the Wallace Collection Website - this is Dagger A811 a search for that should bring it right up - but that is just a view from above, not much detail on that one. I'll add one of the pictures I took of that dagger but that one - like all of the ones I took at the Collection - is rather blurry. [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115558808371040482207/albums/5576585205543712625/5578307210000445122?hl=de[/img] Apart from the colour of the handle, your replica looks spot on to me. Now I'm looking forward to my version of this dagger even more then just 5 minutes ago.

Thanks for the photo! Who is doing your repro, if telling won't diminish your gloating rights when you get it and post pictures?
You photo shows some details I haven't seen before. The photo I have makes the grip look very dark, and in spite of the description by Laking, the grip on the original looks diamond in section rather than truly hexagonal. I'm still unsure about the ferrules, I thought I spied a narrow one at the pommel end but added one to both ends of my grip due to the permanent assembly and the nature of horn.

That there is insanely beautiful...

Justin, your new dagger is gorgeous! Here's a pic of your first attempt from a few years back - I had Glenn McClain make a custom sheath for it, German Silver fittings with belt hook. I got the dagger from a fellow forumite in trade (Love it!).

That is one lovely dagger. I have always been a fan of this handle shape and yours is beautiful. I like the more recent one a tad more then then your first go around. More faceted then smoothed.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks again, gentlemen. I am glad to see some other folks interested in the original, it has been a pet obsession of mine for a few years now.

Tod, I have admired your work for a while and would enjoy seeing your version of this if you ever try again. FWIW I have made 4 attempts at the blade itself, 2 for each finished piece, and the horn grip on this one got a do-over as well. Obsession is the key and it took 2 years plus to do this one, with lots of shelf time.

Christopher, I'm glad to see that yours still has a loving home. The scabbard is a beautiful piece of work, McClain was a good choice! My sheathmaking skills won't come close to doing justice for this design so I haven't even tried.

Excellent work, wonderfully clean execution.

I've been enamored with this dagger for quite some time and your reproduction of it is well done. Your original version is very nice but I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised to see improvements. Congrats!