[JG Elmslie]

I'd just like to show off this little piece I've been working on; an English antenna-hilted quillon dagger (sometimes called an "Anelace" or "Aunlaz" dagger), based on studies of Royal Armouries x.1302, a dagger of this type dated to the mid-14th Century and recorded as a find from Tooley Street, London.

Blade of EN42j carbon steel, Hilt of hand-forged and blacked steel with sterling silver rivet decoration filling the centre of each scroll, a tapering square pein block, and grip of beech wood and vegetable-tanned leather.

The sheath is hand-sewn from two layers of leather in 14th century fashion, with stamping and carving covering the vegetable-tanned cow hide. The twisting vine or rose decoration with details picked out in a red oxide paint is based on an extant example of painted leather (Museum of London ID #13457).

Blade length is 225mm. (Original is 219mm, and I think continued for about 6-7mm more.)
Overall Length is 325mm, with the grip itself being 73mm long.
Width across the crossguard is 53mm.
Weight: 195g.

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This was a piece produced as a personal challenge, after looking at the first reproductions of this dagger made by Arms and Armour, MN around the year 2000, made into a standard stock item in 2008. Looking at the original and reproductions, I couldn't help notice that there were several other makers who were simply copying their product, with the rather distinctive look of its bare wood hilt. So I and wanted to challenge the way that others have copied that interpretation entirely, instead of making their own interpretation. Hence the departure from the preconceived appearance of these, by using a leather covered hilt, extensive blacking, and adjusting the blade profile to more accurately recreate the slender tip of the original. I'd like to hope it presents a fresh view of a familiar dagger.

I'd also like to give my thanks to Craig Johnson of Arms and Armor http://arms-n-armor.com/, for the information on the production history of their model, and permission to mention them here.
I'll also thank Scottish blade-smith Chris Grant http://www.makemethischris.co.uk/ for the heat-treatment of the EN42 steel - not an alloy I'm accustomed to.

And I was going to say it was for sale. But I'm rather surprised to be able to say, it sold while I was writing this description. Ah well, I cant complain, can I?

[Leo Todeschini]

Thats rather nice James.

Excellent work all round and I particularly like the sheath and the use of colour.

Well done.

Tod

[Craig Johnson]

That looks great. You did a great job on the dagger and the scabbard. I particularly like the colored elements and the silver. We did some in copper on a few of our early ones, but where striving to keep our price inline with our other daggers of this size for the stock item. You really created a nice piece and I am sure your lucky patron will enjoy it for a life time.

Best
Craig

[Mark Griffin]

I'm working in Tooley St on Thursday, I'll keep my eye out for others lying about!

Very nice work, good feel to it.

Griff

[Bram Verbeek]

A brilliant piece, from the subtle embellishmens in the scrolls, the shape of the handle, the less subtle leatherwork all the way to the lace ends. I really love it!

[Harry Marinakis]

This is one of those cases when I wish I could blow up the photos to study it in more detail.

nice job.

[JG Elmslie]