Spanish Dagger comments please

not2sharp · 23rd July 2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus

Does anyone know what the purpose was for the cut-outs in the blades of these daggers?
Marcus

The shifty eyed ones will suggest that the cutout would be coated with poison, or used to inject air (promote gangerine) into the wound, or perhaps there to ease the extraction of the knife. None of which make much sense since someone locked into that level of combat would very much like to see his opponent die immediately rather then within hours, days, or weeks from some desease or toxin. Most likely they were 1) a decorative device, and 2) used by the bladesmith to ease the manufacture of the knife. The cutouts do not appear on all Abacete daggers.

n2s

Marcus · 23rd July 2006, 07:19 PM

I got to the military museum in Barcelona today (after all the Picasso exhibits earlier this week, it was my wife's turn to be patient). Here are pictures of similar weapons from their collection. Most have the cut out. One has a metal (brass?) insert in the cut out.
Marcus

not2sharp · 24th July 2006, 06:23 AM

The metal insert would have been a "bodkin" used as a crossbar to limit blade penetration.

Notice the sword all the way on the right (yes, all three shown in illustration are specialized hunting swords):

This was particularly useful when you wanted to be able to control dangerous game; to keep them at a distance rather then having them ride up the blade to within striking range. It doesn't make much sense on a knife; although, these daggers evolved from the hunting plug bayonet, so it may have been a stylistic element retained from the earlier form.

n2s

Marcus · 24th July 2006, 08:05 AM

N2S,
I thought it looked rather like a plug bayonet when I first saw it. For hunting, you say? I suppose after you took your one shot you had to do something if the Boar wasn't down.
M

Marc · 24th July 2006, 08:40 AM

In this kind of daggers, the cutouts are decorative, as are the brass inserts in some of them. They tend not to be attached very securely, so the majority of them have been lost over time.

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to the Montjüich Castle museum.

Marcus · 24th July 2006, 02:21 PM

I also saw a nice authentic one in a high level shop in Barcelona today. It had a brass insert in the cut out. Its price was, as predicted, E300.
M

23rd July 2006, 07:19 PM	#2
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	Barcelona collection I got to the military museum in Barcelona today (after all the Picasso exhibits earlier this week, it was my wife's turn to be patient). Here are pictures of similar weapons from their collection. Most have the cut out. One has a metal (brass?) insert in the cut out. Marcus Attached Images

24th July 2006, 08:05 AM	#4
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	Bodkin N2S, I thought it looked rather like a plug bayonet when I first saw it. For hunting, you say? I suppose after you took your one shot you had to do something if the Boar wasn't down. M

24th July 2006, 02:21 PM	#6
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	Albacete dagger I also saw a nice authentic one in a high level shop in Barcelona today. It had a brass insert in the cut out. Its price was, as predicted, E300. M

24th July 2006, 06:23 AM	#3
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	The metal insert would have been a "bodkin" used as a crossbar to limit blade penetration. Notice the sword all the way on the right (yes, all three shown in illustration are specialized hunting swords): This was particularly useful when you wanted to be able to control dangerous game; to keep them at a distance rather then having them ride up the blade to within striking range. It doesn't make much sense on a knife; although, these daggers evolved from the hunting plug bayonet, so it may have been a stylistic element retained from the earlier form. n2s

24th July 2006, 08:40 AM	#5
Marc Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Madrid / Barcelona Posts: 256	In this kind of daggers, the cutouts are decorative, as are the brass inserts in some of them. They tend not to be attached very securely, so the majority of them have been lost over time. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to the Montjüich Castle museum.