“Dirk” and “Bronze Bird” - these two works were well known to Soviet boys. They enthusiastically read out stories in which the protagonist unraveled difficult situations and literally saved his homeland. But most of all, our boys dreamed of cold steel, which gave the name to an artwork. For lack of the ability to hold a real dagger in their hands, they made it from wood and other improvised materials, and then proudly wore it, becoming the heroes of the whole yard. It is interesting that many teenagers could retell the contents of Anatoly Rybakov’s Dagger, but they would hardly be able to give an exact description of the weapon itself. After all, they only dreamed of seeing the legendary sea blade live and getting acquainted with its history. Today we decided to tell readers what a dagger is. And also consider what evolutionary path it has traveled from the beginning of the sixteenth century to the present day.
What is a dirk?
Before you start the story about this type of cold steel, you need to understand what it is. To do this, take a look at any explanatory dictionary. What is a dagger from the point of view of experts?
This term refers to a cold weapon with a short blade. This dagger can have different sharpening options. According to its typology, the dagger is much closer to the knives, but initially it was used as a weapon. Since his blade narrowed to the end, it was very convenient for them to deliver stabbing blows. The owners of the daggers chose a sharpening for themselves from one or two sides. Wore this weapon in a sword belt or scabbard. A few centuries later, the dagger became an invariable accessory of the military, until now it is part of the uniform of officers of different countries. First of all, this concerns sailors, therefore, at the first mention of this weapon, we immediately think about a sea dagger.
The appearance of a dagger
This universal blade owes its appearance to the military. Historians believe that it arose due to frequent naval clashes in which the ships of the Spaniards and the Portuguese were drawn. They were armed with fairly long rapiers, which showed themselves well in battle during boarding. Since Spain and Portugal suffered severe damage from the Ottoman pirates, rapiers with long blades became a real necessity and salvation for them. During the battles, European sailors gained superiority thanks to their weapons, because the curved sabers of the Turks did not have such a radius of action.
The British also began to use rapiers over time, but noticed their significant shortcomings. Long blades coped with their tasks perfectly during boarding, but it was extremely inconvenient to use these weapons on the ship itself. It did not allow turning around in narrow passages cluttered with various objects. In addition, during the battle, hundreds of people were nearby, which also significantly complicated any action.
Another significant drawback of the rapier was their thin blade. Good steel was considered a rarity in the sixteenth century, so weapons often broke at the most inopportune moment.
To ease their situation, sailors began to use ordinary knives and daggers in battle. Of course, their blades were too short and in many cases useless, but when paired with a rapier, they allowed to act more widely.
It was these knives that became the prototypes of the daggers, which over time acquired a completely different look.
The spread of daggers among aristocrats
Interestingly, the fashion for a variety of knives, hatchets and daggers, which were introduced by sailors, quickly spread to the European nobility. They began to order from well-known gunsmiths for themselves beautifully decorated hatchets for hunting and various knives, which they called "daggers". What is a dagger at the beginning of the seventeenth century?
Most often, it was a blade up to eighty centimeters long. They could carry out stabbing and chopping blows, which turned this weapon into something universal. Not only straight, but also curved blades were also popular. A special decoration of knives was the hilt. It was often made of silver and could surprise with elaborate embossing and carving.
By the middle of the seventeenth century, swords and rapiers remained only in the use of the military. They needed them by the type of service, and aristocrats preferred light and small daggers, which could save lives in a dark alley and did not interfere while riding in a carriage.
Return of the daggers to the fleet
By the end of the seventeenth century, not only aristocrats, but also sailors had heard about daggers. Over time, they appreciated the benefits of short blades and began to use this type of weapon for various purposes. First of all, the British and Dutch armed themselves with daggers, they used it to cut carcasses on ships in the preparation of special jerky and in cases where it was required to fight the enemy in close combat.
The popularity of daggers was so great that they were used not only by sailors, but also by senior officers. It was they who first began to draw a parallel between honor and the preservation of the dirk. Officers never parted with this weapon, gradually making it a symbol of valor. They preferred to die than give their blade to the enemy.
Dirks cost quite a lot of money, and the junior officers, dreaming of their own richly decorated dagger, remade it from other weapons. Attempts to replace the dirk with something else were unsuccessful. Some of the blades were too long, others were thin and not suitable for a real fight. Only the dagger remained unchanged, which became a faithful companion to sailors in almost all European countries.
Dirk as an unofficial cold weapon of naval officers
Around the eighteenth century, the nature of naval battles markedly changed. Now they were carried out using artillery, so boarding fights are a thing of the past. And with them there was no longer an urgent need for dirks. They were replaced by weapons specially made for naval officers that have a curved shape and a long blade. However, many sailors did not like it, despite the fact that it was forged very carefully and from stainless steel.
The junior officers were especially reluctant to switch to a new type of weapon. Due to their duties, they often had to move around decks a lot, act in cramped conditions, and in these situations a long blade created a lot of inconvenience. Therefore, officers everywhere began to order daggers, which were noticeably shortened - up to fifty centimeters. Carrying such weapons on the ship was very convenient, besides it was considered optional, which means it was not regulated in any way. The sailors made it with any hilt and pattern, and the scabbard was also adorned in any form.
Dirk Recognition
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, a dagger was first discussed as a possible mandatory attribute of the uniform of naval officers. The English company adjusted its production, but now the dirk fully corresponded to a certain model approved from above. For example, the blade of that time was supposed to be forty-one centimeters long, and the handle was fitted with shark skin.
Their standards existed in other European countries. In Germany, they changed quite often, while different types of troops and state structures had their own sample of dagger. For customs officers, the hilt was green, while for diplomats, an eagle with a swastika in its paws had a certain inclination of its head.
Dirk in Russia
It is believed that the fashion for such weapons was introduced by Tsar Peter I. He loved his dirk very much and considered it an integral part of his military uniform. Since the king was very kind to his fleet, he ordered all officers to wear daggers. The shape and size of the blade changed several times, however, it always retained its main importance - symbolizing the power and valor of the Russian fleet. Peter I by his decree noted in the list of persons who must wear a dagger, and officials related to the maritime departments. It was during this period of time that the tradition developed not to go ashore without a blade.
The death of the great Russian Tsar, who built the fleet and proved its viability to the whole of Europe, became a sunset during the dirk. Subsequent years of decline significantly reduced the prestige of the navy, and a convenient short dagger eventually migrated to other troops. From a symbol, he turned into an ordinary edged weapon, which was everywhere worn by both soldiers and officers.
At the end of the eighteenth century, it practically ceased to be used in battles, which means that it has lost its significance even more. He became for officers more a personal weapon than an indispensable element of uniform. Many moved away from wearing a dirk and even completely forgot about it. However, the nineteenth century made adjustments to the fate of this weapon.
Standard for Dirk Making
Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, this type of cold steel was made in any form, but the situation changed. The royal dagger acquired its standard, which returned interest to him from naval officers. Now the blade was supposed to have a length of no more than thirty centimeters, and its handle became a real work of art from ivory. Carrying such a thing was considered an honor, it was carefully cherished, and often even made the thing that was passed down from generation to generation from father to son.
Absolutely all officers began to wear a dirk again, including those who served in various departments. Literally in eleven years, the dagger has become an envy, which many wanted to possess. About three years before the overthrow of the tsarist regime, the blade was seriously modified. His hilt was now made of cheaper material, and the blade itself became shorter - twenty-four centimeters. These changes allowed the introduction of a dagger in all types of troops. He was even worn by huntsmen, which could not but cause discontent among sailors.
The revolution of the seventeenth year for several decades drove the dagger into the shadows. He practically ceased to be an obligatory edged weapon in the army, although the leadership of the Red Army often carried intricate daggers with Soviet symbols. However, it was rather a tribute to a tradition that was considered a relic of the past.
Soviet dagger
At the state level, the dagger was remembered on the eve of World War II. The Soviet-style dagger of the Navy became a very important attribute of command, and therefore had its own standard. Historians argue that this option was very different from everything that existed before, and was highly appreciated by officers.
Daggers of the USSR of the fortieth year were a parade model. The blade of the dagger was twenty-one and a half centimeters long, the blade was made of alloy steel, but it was quite thin. The handle had a collapsible design and from a distance it looked very much like ivory. However, in fact, the material was ordinary plastic, but of fairly good quality. The scabbard had a wooden insert, and special tucks firmly held the dagger inside, despite the officer’s position and movements.
Most of the small details of the decor were made of brass. It was covered with gilding, but it was quickly erased. Mandatory was the application of special symbols (for example, an anchor).
To date, the entire officers are armed with daggers, from ensigns to generals. This dagger is part of the parade uniform, however, representatives of the navy have a number of privileges. They are the only ones allowed to wear a dagger as a personal weapon. You can get it only after graduating from a military academy or on the occasion of awarding the next rank.
Types of Daggers
To date, several types of daggers are produced in the Russian Federation, differing in their characteristics. These include the length of the blade, for example, or the composition of the steel. To date, there are six types of daggers:
- Nautical. Its standard came from the first quarter of the nineteenth century. According to him, the length of the blade should not exceed twenty-seven centimeters. This option is considered the shortest of all.
- Officer This kind of blade is richly decorated with precious stones and genuine leather.
- Ceremonial. Dirk is somewhat reminiscent of the first option we mentioned. Common features can be traced in size, but this type of edged weapon is much richer.
- General's. The dagger stands out with a narrow blade and elaborate engraving, made using inlay and adding gold filigree.
- Admiral. This dirk can be called unique. The fact is that his first sample had absolutely no prototypes. It contains the largest number of precious stones and gold.
- Award.
It is very honorable for each officer to have any of these types of daggers, because he is still considered a symbol of valor. It is interesting that as an award for valor and services to the motherland, an officer can receive a dagger and a watch with a personal inscription. Both presentations are very expensive and symbolize a special disposition towards a person.
Dagger classification
We have already specified that today this cold steel is an integral attribute of the parade uniform. However, we can give one more classification of daggers depending on their purpose:
- Personal weapons. Such daggers receive all graduates of military schools. The issuance of weapons takes place in a festive atmosphere in a circle of colleagues and loved ones. Outside of special events, it is forbidden to carry a dagger with you, but graduates hold the tradition of washing their weapons in a restaurant. In recent years, blades are usually consecrated within the walls of the temple.
- Name weapons. In this capacity, daggers are presented as a gift. Honorary guests of the country and people who have done something important for Russia can become its owners. Also, a dagger can become a guarantee of a long and productive cooperation between the two powers.
We think that after all of the above, you understand why the famous story by Anatoly Rybakov is called “The Dirk”. This name alone at one time caused great interest in it. And after that she appeared in a couple to “Dirk” and “Bronze bird”. By the way, we would like to say a few words about these works.
Conclusion
Since it was with the mention of these stories that we started our article, we cannot finish it without Rybakov's “Dirk”. If you are interested in the history of this type of edged weapon, then we advise you not to ignore this work. After all, it has long been known that writers can reflect the fate of an entire country in their work. And the “Bronze Bird” and “Dirk” are a story about us and our past. It will help to glance at a time when everything around was completely different, and people lived in ideals and thought in other categories. Therefore, we advise all our readers to pick up Rybakov’s “Dirk” in their hands and immerse themselves in a real, albeit fictional, world.