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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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Posted: Tue 29 May, 2007 6:42 am Post subject: Strange loop on a rondel dagger (?) |
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Check out the pics below. What is the loop for on this dagger's pommel? Is it for attaching to a breastplate chain or is it ornamental or something else?
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ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Hugh Fuller
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Posted: Tue 29 May, 2007 7:02 am Post subject: |
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It was not at all uncommon for a man-at-arms to attach his weapons to his breastplate with lengths of chain so that they would be easily accessible during a fight. I would suspect that the loop on the dagger is, indeed, for that purpose.
Hugh
Still trying to walk in the Light
Please see 1 John 1:5
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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Posted: Tue 29 May, 2007 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Hugh Fuller wrote: | It was not at all uncommon for a man-at-arms to attach his weapons to his breastplate with lengths of chain so that they would be easily accessible during a fight. I would suspect that the loop on the dagger is, indeed, for that purpose. |
This is a 14th century rondel dagger, so that would make sense as that was pretty common in that era, moreso than later. That was my guess as well, I just wanted other opinions/guesses/etc.
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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John H
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Posted: Wed 30 May, 2007 3:53 pm Post subject: For a lanyard? |
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Pure speculation on my part, but could it be attached to a wrist strap?
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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Posted: Wed 30 May, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject: Re: For a lanyard? |
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John H wrote: | Pure speculation on my part, but could it be attached to a wrist strap? |
I suppose it could be a wrist lanyard. We see that (later?) on axes and warhammers. If I had to guess I'd guess it would be to attach to a breastplate chain, but that's totally a guess.
We see a lot of those on effigies and brasses:
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Mikko Kuusirati
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Posted: Thu 31 May, 2007 5:27 am Post subject: Re: For a lanyard? |
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Chad Arnow wrote: | John H wrote: | Pure speculation on my part, but could it be attached to a wrist strap? |
I suppose it could be a wrist lanyard. We see that (later?) on axes and warhammers. |
We also hear about it earlier, on axes and swords in Viking sagas. It seems to have been common to hang an ax or sword from a wrist strap and hold a spear in the hand; when the spear is thrown or gets stuck, the other weapon is immediately "at hand", as it were. Egil Skallagrimson does it a lot with his signature seax.
"And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
— Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum
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Gary A. Chelette
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Posted: Fri 01 Jun, 2007 11:06 am Post subject: Re: For a lanyard? |
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John H wrote: | Pure speculation on my part, but could it be attached to a wrist strap? |
I would say yes! Many times I've had my weapon knocked from my hand and I was able to step back and recover only because it was lanyard' to my hand. If I was in a knife fight, you bet I'd have it tied to me!
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