A Saxon Landsknecht Dagger dating to circa 1550 to 1575

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Price: £1,700

Ref: 42101800

Item Description

A very nice robust Landsknecht Dagger dating to the second half of the 16th century. The dagger is an “attic find” in its “as found” condition. These compact and heavy daggers were designed for close-in use and are associated with the Landsknecht German mercenaries of the 16th century.

Typically the quillons emanate from a sturdy rectangular quillon block and are slightly downwardly curved terminating in swollen knops with nippled finials. A strongly formed side ring is forged onto the quillon block. The heavy solid pommel is dome shaped above its circumference and conical beneath. The domed pommel button is of bronze or brass.

The grip is of oval cross section and narrows towards the pommel. It is covered with leather and mounted with decorative silver or pewter ferrules top and bottom chiselled with leaves.

The strong double edged tapering blade has a pronounced ricasso with a central fuller extending from the hilt which terminates two inches from the tip after which the blade is thickened and reinforced into an armour piercing point.

The blade length is 10.75 inches long (just under 30 cm) and overall the dagger is 15.25 inches (just under 29 cm) long.

The dagger is in fine aged and uncleaned russet condition as can be seen in the photos below. For a similar style dagger see Bashford Dean, “Catalogue of European Daggers”, New York, 1929, fig 116 plate XLI