Tod's Stuff 15th century Rothenburg ballock dagger -- myArmoury.com

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Last year, Tod from Tod's Stuff became aware of a beautiful ballock dagger located in the Rothenburg Collection listed as Northern Italian (Venetian?), circa 1450

He was so enamored with this piece, he decided he had to make it. He proceeded to create the fittings for it, send it off the the foundry, and get some castings made so that he could make a couple versions of it. I believe fellow forumite Bryce Felperin received the original version of this dagger, one that had a diamond cross-sectioned blade with reinforced tip and a by-knife and pricker in its scabbard.

I immediately took notice of this interpretation and decided I had to have a version myself. I went a different route and asked Tod to make something closer to the original antique. I knew this would be perhaps a difficult task given the complex cross-section of the blade, but Tod was interested and this is what he has since delivered into my own collection:

Click any photo to see a full-sized version

The blade is a square cross-section that shifts 45 degrees at the tip section and has a stepped ricasso area with fullers. The grip is ebonized elm wood sealed with beeswax. The inscription on the pommel cap reads, DEXTERA DOMINI FECIT VIRTUTEM (The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength). The fittings are bronze and there is a silver plate under the decorative pommel cap. The scabbard has a four-sided wooden core and has incised decorations on its black leather outer covering with a large bronze chape balancing everything out.

I hope you guys enjoy seeing these things.

Cheers

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 1:05 pm Post subject:

You should find a museum cabinetmaker to build a custom display just for your knives and daggers. What an astonishing collection, and this just continues the trend! Kudos to all, especially the master who did the work.

Christian Borglum · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 1:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Nathan,

That is jaw-dropping, exquisitely, beautiful, and I don't even really like Ballock daggers. The intricate, filed and engraved pommel cap is absolutely stunning. I don't know if I've ever seen a 90 degree offset in a blade cross-section like that. What an incredible piece! Congratulations.to you as the new owner and to Tod as the artist. Wow... Surprised

Christian Borglum

Dan P · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 1:13 pm Post subject:

That's why Tod's stuff is the best and I never get tired of seeing new threads about his pieces. It would be an amazing dagger in its own wright but a reproduction of an actual weapon from history is just taking it to the next level.

Josh S · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 2:14 pm Post subject:

I snagged one of the versions he made of this dagger, which was shown in his recent post here showing a bunch of knives he'd made for sale. Mine's a bit simpler - the blade is a simple diamond cross-section, and no silver plate - but by no means any less impressive. The size alone is arresting; it was much larger than I had anticipated. I too have to express what Christian said above; until I saw that particular piece up for sale, ballock daggers had never interested me much. Now they do. Tod seems to have a talent for producing work so good that it makes us interested even in things we may not have previously cared for - a phenomenon which has already occurred several times in my case!

Have you had any issues with the bronze window finials that extend onto the grip from the end-cap? On mine they had pulled off the wood grip a bit by the time it arrived, although it was an easy fix to lightly tap them back into place.

Craig Johnson · Industry Professional

To paraphrase a few of my friends from Tod's side of the pond "That's expletive, expletive marvelous!"

Really well done Tod. I particular like the guard and chape detail. The form is spot on.

In awe as usual

Craig

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 5:04 pm Post subject:

Congratulations Nathan in getting this excellent piece.

Tod does have a lot of talent and his pieces, as you know, always seem to match the look and feel of actual period pieces and not sterile machine made pieces, they look very hand made by a master artisan of the period.

Jeremy V. Krause · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 6:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Nathan,

I am glad you decided to have a blade made that more directly mirrors the shape of the original to pair with this beautiful hilt. It may simply be the angle of the pic of the original and of your reproduction, but did Tod adopt a more stout blade on this reproduction? The reproduction blade just seems a bit less slender to me. Perhaps my eyes are mistaken.

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Eric G. · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 8:05 pm Post subject:

Nathan,

You have a great eye for beautiful pieces. I often see the custom commissions that you have done and think, "dang, I wish I would have done that first!"

Also, I can't finish this post without mentioning how impressive Tod's work is.

Tim Lison · Posted: Fri 27 Jan, 2012 9:58 pm Post subject:

Wow! Seeing pieces like this make me want to get some later period stuff again. Great show Nathan. Yet another of your pieces for me to envy!

Ben Anbeek · Industry Professional

Always loved this dagger.
I think this is a great replica made by one of the best.
You can be very happy with this one

Julien M · Posted: Sat 28 Jan, 2012 1:20 am Post subject:

That's disgustingly beautiful Happy

The Rothenburg ballock is probably the most glorious example of this type I know of...and Tod's interpretation is spot on (I equally like both versions).

One of Tod's most stunning piece to date for sure.

J

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Paul Hansen · Posted: Sat 28 Jan, 2012 3:44 am Post subject:

Fantastic piece Nathan and Tod! Congratulations!

Bill Grandy · myArmoury Team

Just another note of awestruck praise. That is amazing!

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

I love it. I like how the ricasso is slightly assymetric on both the repro and original.

Paul Mortimer · Posted: Sun 29 Jan, 2012 2:23 am Post subject:

Gorgeous! Well done all.

Paul

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

Thanks everyone, really generous compliments.

Nathan mysteriously said 'Tod became aware of this dagger' so here is my story behind the dagger.

Late in 2010 a customer sent me some pictures of this dagger asking for a quote and as a one off piece this was going to be reasonably expensive and turned out to be too much. When I saw the dagger I just fell in love with it as I had not seen the like and emailed Nathan straight off to tell him about it, as getting excited with friends is always more fun than just 1 person in a workshop. For about 2 months that was the end of the matter.

After about 2 months I gave in to the inevitable and made a set of masters for the castings and so started making knives based on the Rothenberg piece and then started looking for customers, which is generally considered the wrong way round for custom makers. Anyway I got to make a piece based on a lovely dagger but shied away from the rather singular blade of the original, until Nathan asked for it.

Unfornately I have not got to Rothenberg (yet) so have worked only from pictures and as more time has passed more people have sent me pictures of it and so my understanding of the piece increases. It was Nathan for exampe that found/noticed the pommel is in fact cut through to a different metal underneath and that I had slightly over scaled the piece.

In a nutshell, I in return have to give a big thanks to my customers who both send me interesting comissions and provide me with information about these pieces that we are all so passionate about. I have a job I love and I couldn't have that without you. Sentimental and a tear jerker - but true.

Tod

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team