Can anybody tell me the reason for plate on dagger quillian, Is it to rest the thumb, Two Pics.
Can you date the pommel on other dagger. is it military. ( As picture please ) one pic.
Many thanks Tony.

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I don't really know much about daggers, but it seems to me that the plate on the first dagger is either meant to be a rain guard (chappe) or is just for display. It appears almost as if there would have been at one time a similiar "shell like" plate on the other side. These might have provided a seal between the dagger and the sheath to keep rain out. However, I'm merely speculating.

It looks just like a standard guard to me, which would be used as a means for protection to the hand. it's not for the thumb. If the thumb were to be used on the quillon block, it would be on the other side, opposite of the shell-like guard.