Rothenburg kidney dagger with scabbard, 15th century 0216201600

Rothenburg kidney dagger with leather sheath, late 15th century

The kidney dagger or testicular dagger ( bollock dagger / ballock dagger ) owes its rather peculiar name to the two distinctive spherical or egg-shaped thickenings or protuberances that form the hand guard and give the blade a distinctly phallic look. This particular type of medieval dagger spread throughout Europe and appeared in countless variants during its unusually long life, which spanned from the late Middle Ages (14th century) to the Renaissance. In the British Isles it existed in modified forms ( dudgeon dagger in England and dirk in Scotland) even into the 17th and 18th century. Century.

This stabbing weapon, usually carried as a side weapon in addition to one's sword or rapier, enjoyed great popularity among knights, as its tapered blade with a sharp point was ideally suited for piercing through padded armour and chain mail in close combat, or for cutting through the gaps in one's opponent's plate armour. Not only was it a deadly instrument, it also served as an elegant display of its bearer's wealth, and knights and wealthy citizens often carried their elaborately crafted and richly decorated daggers with them as a status symbol.

The beautiful and elegant medieval dagger we offer here is based on a northern Italian original from the late 15th century (approx. 1450-1480), which is now in the weapons collection of the Baumann Foundation in the Rothenburg Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Bavaria, Middle Franconia).

The blade is made of EN45 spring steel, has a diamond-shaped cross-section and tapers evenly to a sharp point. The cutting edges are not sharpened and the tang is screwed to the end of the handle. The handle with its characteristic double-lobed guard was carved from a single piece of wood and is reinforced with antique-finished brass fittings. It terminates at the top and ends with a flat, lavishly decorated end cap. The equally splendid stop plate has right-angled, downward-curving blade receivers with raised ends, which were intended to intercept and hold opposing blades in close combat.

The knight's dagger is delivered with a vegetable-tanned leather sheath and carefully sewn with a leather cord for attaching it to the belt. The openwork motifs and details that adorn the pommel can be found on the beautiful brass gate plate with a button.

It should be noted that this late medieval dagger is not suitable for display combat. It is designed as a collector's item or decorative object and is also ideal as an accessory, for example to complete your costume.

Details:
- Material: EN45 spring steel blade (carbon steel, not stainless), antique finished brass knob and guard, wooden handle
- Total length: approx. 39.5cm
- Blade length: approx.25 cm
- Blade thickness: approx. 4 mm / 3 mm (cutting edge approx. 0.8 mm)
- Handle length: approx. 14.5 cm / 16 cm with decorative dots (handle area approx. 8 cm)
- Maximum blade width: approx. 2 cm
- Center of gravity: approx. -4 cm (at the handle, directly behind the guard)
- Includes genuine leather sheath with brass cap (antique finish) and leather cord
- Weight without sheath: approximately 370 g
- Weight with sheath: approximately 445 g

The above specifications may vary slightly from item to item.

The steel used here is not stainless and may have slight traces of corrosion. We recommend regular maintenance of the blade, for example with Ballistol, a universal oil that is ideal for preserving steel goods.