Throughout its history, mankind has created many types of piercing-cutting cold weapons. In European countries, the most ancient version of combat knives is considered a dagger. The craftsmen made several varieties of this short-bladed weapon.
One of the most effective examples of European combat knives is the Dag dagger for the left hand. The history and description of this blade are presented in the article.
Acquaintance
Dagger "Dag" is a type of European short-bladed edged weapon. It was used as an addition to a sword or broadsword. Therefore, the Dagger dagger was intended for the left hand. It was used in fights paired with the main weapon. The French called Dagu "Men Gauche," which means "left hand."
Description
The dagger "Dag" is a melee weapon for which a short narrow blade is provided that looks very similar to a stylet and a complicated guard. It is presented in two options: in the form of a bowl or arches. Ephesus has a wide guard and a cross, the ends of which are curved forward. "Daga" is equipped with a special trapping device in the form of a steel plate with ends curved towards the tip.
It is installed between the handle and the blade. Thanks to such design features, the Dagger dagger is highly effective at capturing and holding the enemy’s blade. The guard guard has the shape of an openwork triangle. The blade can be flat or equipped with 3-4 faces. Width is 10 mm. According to experts, faceted blades are more effective than flat ones, as they can pierce chain mail.
Some daggers have no cutting edge at all. Such "Dagi" at one time only stabbed blows. This kind of dagger is characterized by a small cross section, due to which edged weapons are highly durable. In addition, the blade is completely steel. The size of the dagger "Dag" (photo of the weapon is presented in the article) is 500-600 mm. Of these, 300 mm fall on the blade itself. This product weighs no more than 0.5 kg.
On the origin of the dagger "Dag"
Edged weapons until 1400 were mainly used by commoners. In the 15th century, a fashion for dueling appeared among the European nobility. The blade became an effective means of ending the quarrel when it was necessary at all costs to protect the noble honor. "Duel fever" contributed to the popularity of this blade weapon. The Dagger dagger began to be used by knights. The famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415 took place using these blades.
About combat use
The use of dag was the impetus for the emergence of new fencing techniques, in which the victory was not won by the strongest, but by a more dexterous and faster fighter. Each country had its own school. The Germans specialized in performing chopping punches, the Italians - stabbing. Despite the fact that each school had its own handwriting, they were trained to reflect blows only with the left hand. During training, bucklers were used - special fist guards. In the conditions of battle in the absence of dagi, the student could use a cloak wound on his hand.
At the beginning of the XVI century, the Spaniards invented a new style of sword fights, which was called "Espada and Dag". Attacking attacks (attacks) were carried out with a sword, which the fencer took in his right hand. In the left, Dag was held. The purpose of the dagger is to fend off enemy attacks. Using a sword and a dagu, the fencer could effectively double blow with two blades, defend himself and attack at the same time.
The dagger replaced the heavy shield. According to experts, Daga can not only fend off enemy attacks, but also attack, which could not be made a shield. Often during fights, the swords broke. In such situations, the functions of the main weapon were performed by the dagi. The dagger was very effective only at short range. During the fight, the tip of the dagi was headed towards the enemy. They held the dagger at neck or chest level. According to experts, this weapon by fencers has never been restrained by a reverse grip. The use of dag allowed the fighter to move freely and perform complex stitching and cutting strokes.
How was the blade worn?
Dougie stuffed into a wide belt. They could also be worn on special chains. Sheaths for this edged weapon were not provided. The exception is the Swiss Dagi, who were worn in a sheath with two or three combat knives. Often, “daggers of the left hand” were placed on the right side. This gave the owner the opportunity to quickly grab a weapon and fend off an enemy attack.
About the Levantine Dagger
"Dag" of this type is a two-blade product with two lobes, the separation of which is carried out using a high middle rib. The tip of the blade is slightly dull. The handle is equipped with a small side ring for the finger. Garda is equipped with a shield and two temples in the form of an iron ax. A dagger 950 mm long was attached to a special military belt.
"Cow tongue"
The place of manufacture of this dagger "Dag" was Venice and Verona. The weapon is equipped with a short, wide and flat symmetrical blade. The triangular and trihedral tip is formed by converging in a straight line of the blades. In some daggers of this type, the blades can be separated by a rib. The handle consists of bone or wooden plates. The place of their fastening was a flat rod, in which the tube expanding upwards forms the head of the dagger.
In some embodiments of edged weapons, the tube on the sides can be crimped by a metal strip, the ends of which stretch to the beginning of the handle. The arches directed towards the tip also overlap with a strip, like the tube itself. The place of their installation was the base of the blade. The temples are fastened by riveting. The total size of the dagger can vary between 600-700 mm.
Dagassa
It is a Western European stitching blade melee weapon - a wide dagger or combat knife. The homeland of these products is considered Italy. Especially widespread in the XIV-XVI centuries. "Dag" consists of a straight, double-edged spear-shaped blade. For the lateral planes of the knife, special faces are provided, due to which dagi are very effective when piercing armor. For convenient holding of weapons, the base of the blade is equipped with special notches for the thumb and forefinger. Protection is provided to them by arches which fall to a blade.
About German weapons
The design of the German dagi consists of a main and two side blades, which are bent to the sides. Swivel mount is provided for them. The mechanism of their breeding is driven by a special spring. After clicking on the corresponding button, the weapon takes the form of a kind of trident.
This design feature made it possible for the fencer to break the blades of his opponents during a duel. To do this, it was enough to trap the blade of an enemy knife and press the shutter button on the handle of the dagi. Then there was a release of the grips of the side blades, after which they were released, and, diverging to the sides, broke the blade.
About the Spanish Model
The Spanish version of dagi is considered the most famous. The dagger is characterized by the presence of a flat narrow blade and a developed guard. A blade with a wide base, tapering to the tip. Spanish Dagi have one-sided sharpening. The dagger’s guard consists of long straight arms and a triangular, envelope brush, shield.
Its purpose is to protect the fencer's hand from enemy attacks. At the base of the blade, the shield is wide and narrowed at the top of the handle, which are mostly short in the Spanish “Dagas”. Products are usually equipped with expensively decorated hilt.
About the Japanese version
The dagger sai is equipped with a narrow round or multifaceted blade, along which the arms of the guard extend towards the point. Unlike the European versions, these temples are sharpened sharply. Also, Japanese sai differs from the rest of the dag in that it is not an additional cold weapon. Moreover, this dagger does not apply to samurai combat blades. Sai is an agricultural tool. According to experts, jutte is considered a real military Japanese blade.
Structurally, it is very similar to sai, but the combat version is equipped with only one handle and a powerful thick faceted and unsharpened blade. Also, there is no spearhead provided for jute, so this product was used as a baton. Since the Japanese police in the Edo era included samurai, as historians say, jutte can be attributed to samurai weapons. It was not used in conjunction with another blade. Unlike European Doug, the baton was not intended to kill the enemy.
With the help of jute, they only disarmed malefactors armed with swords. Also, Japanese masters made jutte with a sharpened blade. This type of edged weapon was called "marokhoshi". The police did not equip with such a blade.