[Chad Arnow]

I picked this piece up via trade a while back with the intention of putting together a review before passing it on to someone else. This won't be the full/typical myArmoury format, as most people reading this don't need me to tell them about rondel daggers. They can check out our Spotlight article for more info.

Leo "Tod" Todeschini's company Tod Cutler offers many daggers, a number of swords, impact weapons, leather work, and miscellaneous other items at competitive prices. Designed by Tod, many of these pieces (like this dagger) are made in India to his specs. I've handled a number of these pieces now, and the accuracy and quality control exceed that of things typically made in India and/or offered in this price range. This dagger, which Tod labels the "Medieval English Knights Rondel Dagger 14thC TC89," is no exception.

It's based on a piece in the UK's Royal Armouries (X.1). The original features a thick, hollow-ground blade and rondels each made of two pieces, brazed together. The “pommel” rondel features a cinquefoil embossed into the outer piece, while the “guard” rondel of the original was engraved with a geometric design. The grip on the piece is a modern replacement.

Measurements and specifications:
Weight: 10.8 ounces/306 grams
Overall length: 13 1/2 inches/34.3 cm
Blade length: 9 inches/23 cm
Blade width: .895 inches/22.95 mm at base, tapering to .340 inches/8.6 mm
Blade thickness: .385 inches/9.87 mm at base, tapering to .196 inches/5 mm
Grip length: 3.75 inches/9.5 cm
Guard width: 2.1 inches/52.6 mm

Handling Characteristics
Tod has managed to get pretty close to the specs of the original, resulting in a dagger that handles like a period piece should. Given the thickness of the blade and the hollow rondels, I expected this to feel more blade heavy than it does. This dagger feels great in the hand. Point control is easy whether held tip-up or tip-down. It’s not a very big dagger but would be easy to use when finding gaps in an opponent’s defenses.

The grip is spiral-grooved wood and is comfortable. My ungloved hand fits nicely on the hilt. I no longer own any gauntlets, so I can’t speak to how it would work in armour. The blade (ordered sharp) is paper-cutting sharp. It is thick, though, so don’t expect it to slice like a kitchen knife.

Fit and Finish
For the price, this is a very well-finished dagger. The steel parts are a glossy satin finish. Some marks of manufacture (small scratches, grind marks, etc.) are present but not in a way or number that would imply any sloppiness. I’ve seen worse on much more expensive pieces. There are a few rough spots on the edge of the pommel rondel that could be rectified in a minute or two with a file or some sand paper.

Because of how the rondels are made, they exhibit the slight asymmetries endemic to period pieces, though to a far lesser extent than some of the wonkier historical pieces.
The curvature of the hand-made guard rondel leaves the potential for some slight gapping between blade and guard. Again, we see this to larger extent on many period pieces. The whole assembly is rock solid, as I’ve come to expect from Tod.

Tod Cutler daggers come with a two-layer leather sheath, available in several colors. I chose brown for this one and it’s quite attractive. The sheath has incised (possibly stamped) decoration on the front and back in period patterns. It’s a nice addition often lacking in this price range. A simple brass chape and a leather thong for tying it to a belt complete the sheath. The top of the sheath is cut straight, so the guard curves away from it very slightly at the sides.

Conclusion
Typically, a dagger in this price range (~$140-150 at the time of this writing) would simplify many of the original’s features to save cost. Hollow fabricated rondels, thick blade stock, and hollow ground blades would be too expensive or labor-intensive for most makers to mess with. Tod’s commitment to both accuracy and reasonable prices is really admirable. For this price, you’re getting a lot more historical features than you’ll typically find in mass-produced daggers. It’s an easy piece to recommend.

[Bart M]

Thanks for the review. It's an interesting piece for sure. I like the appropriately sized grip and the thick blade stock.