[Felix R.]

Hello,
this week I got the baselard dagger, I ordered from Tod´s stuff of the UK. After seeing many rondels and ballock daggers on the reproduction and custom market, I decided to go for something different
The blade design was based on a dagger that is part of the collection in Castelvecchio in Verona, Italy.
The dagger has an overall length of 42.5cm, with a double fullered blade of 29.5cm. It was delivered with a leather sheath in a rich chestnut brown colour. I let Tod decide for most part of the construction and the materials used. So he added some very nicely grained wood and some file work on the sides of the hilt. Im am really impressed by his work.

[Russ Ellis]

Wow! That's really nice Felix, I may have to talk to Tod about something like that!

[Jeremy V. Krause]

Congratulation Felix!

That piece looks great. I especially like the wood and the filework. Tod is a top notch maker and great to work with. If he can get some of his newer pieces on his website more folks would get a chance to see his skill- not that his pieces on his site are not great. I just think it is nice to show how his craft is developing.

Thanks for sharing Felix,
Jeremy

[Chad Arnow]

Tod always does nice work. Great new piece, Felix!

[Antal László]

That looks pretty cool It is good to see a dagger what is not a rondel. And so nicely done. I envy you.

[Darrin Hughes]

Congatulations Felix.
I can only echo the comments that have already been made. Tod has made 3 scabbards for me so far, and altered the grip on one of my Albions, (for the better). I know from personal experience the amount of research that Tod does, and I think the attention to detail is obvious for all to see.

Cheers,
Darrin.

[Joe Fults]

Really does look like a nice piece. Several people have mentioned the file work but for some reason the combination of wood and steel on the top of the hilt caught my eye. Not sure why but it just seems to create a nice look.

[Randall Moffett]

It does look nice. I love to see his work. He goes to a few markets close to where I am and I hvae bought stuff from him in the past. Great person and knows what he is doing which is nice. I have spoken to him regarding a few themes and he spends a great deal of time in the research as well as making of his items.

Baselards are so under done in reenactment. It'd be nice to see more about.

RPM

[Chase S-R]

very nice!

I saw an almost identical baselard in a very very small museum in Romania or Bulgaria that had some of the wood left, it looked similiar to the way yours is done unfortunatly I can't show you a picture as it was not allowed to photograph
but now you know there is an original that looks exceedingly similiar.

[Felix R.]

Thanks for the kind comments.

Indeed it was great to deal with Tod. We had a few days of e-mail exchange before I decided for an option and he was really helpful in recommending books and finally the baselard design. Then I sent him the picture shown at the beginning of the thread and let him do the rest.
He was always responsive and answered mails in due time. Finally a few weeks ago I opened my e-mail account with the morning coffee and couldn´t believe my eyes when Tod sent me the e-mail with the pictures of teh finished dagger. Two weeks later it was at my door. Now it is at the wall
What you can´t see from the pictures is the grain on the blade, Tod told me that the blade was handforged and then finished by sanding, though it is not polished it is quite close to a mirror polish. However, it leaves some marks and stains of the manufacturing process that aren´t really obvious at first look but give the blade a unique appearance for the second.

[Leo Todeschini]

Thanks very much for the fine comments.

Chase S-R said

I saw an almost identical baselard in a very very small museum in Romania or Bulgaria that had some of the wood left, it looked similiar to the way yours is done unfortunatly I can't show you a picture as it was not allowed to photograph
but now you know there is an original that looks exceedingly similiar.

Regarding the construction I had to make some guesses from the picture of the original I was sent and am glad I seem to have got it right. The guard was constructed by fitting a shaped metal plate on either side of the blade and rivetting them together so the rivet just passes through the blade edge and so the metal plates are prevented from moving up or down the blade. The plates were then drilled and the wood was rivetted to them. In the original picture, the blade widens just below the grip and there are traces of a rivet hole on either side and as the wood needed to be backed up with steel this seemed like the only way to construct it. The other reason that I felt this construction was the way to go is that the original is in a North Italian museum and this mode of construction is very similar to that of cinquedas which geographically fits well.

I welded the loop at the top on seperately and this also is evident in the picture of the original.

All in all it was a little tricky, but as I have been wanting to make one for a few years and haven't seemed to find the time I am pleased someone finally comissioned one and personally I was a little sad to see it go. So thank you Felix for giving me the opportunity although I will certainly be making more.

Tod
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[Doug Strong]

Felix, You are a lucky man. That is beautiful.