German Kidney Dagger with Scabbard, 16th Century.

Delight in this German Kidney Dagger with Sheath, 16th Century.

German kidney dagger with leather sheath, 16th century



The kidney dagger ( kidney dagger ) or testicle dagger (English bollock dagger / ballock dagger ) owes its rather strange name to the two distinctive balls – or egg-shaped thickenings or protuberances – that form the hand guard and give the handle a distinctly phallic appearance. This particular type of medieval dagger spread throughout Europe and appeared in countless variations throughout 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 onwards.



This stabbing weapon, which was typically used as a sidearm in addition to the sword or rapier, was very popular among knights because its tapered blade with a sharp point was ideally suited for piercing padded armour and chain mail in close combat or for piercing the gaps in the knights' plate armour in order to stab the opponent. Not only was it a deadly instrument, it also served as an elegant display of the bearer's wealth, and knights and wealthy citizens often carried their artistically crafted and richly decorated daggers with them as a status symbol.



The blade of this beautiful and elegant reconstruction of a 16th-century German dagger is made of EN45 spring steel, has a diamond-shaped cross-section and tapers evenly to a sharp point. The cutting edges are unsharpened and the tang is screwed into the end of the handle. The handle, with its characteristic two-lobed guard, is carved from a single piece of wood and reinforced with antiqued brass fittings: an end cap decorated with crosses and an equally ornate, downward-curving guard plate with ends shaped like rams' heads.



The knight's dagger is delivered with a vegetable-tanned leather sheath, carefully sewn with a leather cord for attaching it to the belt. The cross and ram's head motifs, which decorate the pommel and guard, are found on the beautiful brass placemat.



This Renaissance dagger 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 finish brass knob and guard plate, wooden handle.
- Total length: approx. 36.5cm

- Blade length: approx. 22.2 cm

- Blade thickness: approx. 5 mm / 3.5 mm (cutting edges approx. 0.6 mm)

- Handle length: approx. 14.3 cm / 16.5 cm with decorative tips (handle section approx. 9 cm)

- Maximum blade width: approx.
- Center of gravity: approx. -1.5 cm (at the handle, at the height of the guard)

- Includes genuine leather sheath with brass bezel (antique finish) and leather cord

- Weight without cover: approx. 200g

- Weight with case: approx. 260 g



The above specifications may vary slightly from specimen to specimen.



The steel used here is not stainless and may show slight signs of corrosion. We recommend taking care of the blade regularly, for example with Ballistol, a universal oil ideal for preserving steel products.



Please note:

This item is only sold to persons over 18 years of age. Please enter your date of birth on our order form. We also require a copy of your ID, driving licence or similar by email, scan, fax or post.

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