two Dutch medieval daggers

[katana]

Originally Posted by A Senefelder

The flare you mention are the result of hollow grinding. While the technique tends to be associated with three sided, triangular small sword blades it can be found on medieval swords as well. In hallow grinding the grinding wheel is used to create rather than a flat face one that is slightly concave imparting stiffness to the blade. Dr. Jones has a nice 15th century fishtail pommel sword, of the type with a blade that tappers rapidly from forte to point that I had the pleasure of handeling that is hollow ground.

Hi A Senefelder,
thank you for the explaination. Surely though, the 'flares' would be removed....unless it resulted in an added benefit. I think this 'flare' would provide a larger 'surface area' butted up against a bowl/cupped guard....making it more secure....much like a 'washer' fitted under a nut. These 'flares' do not seem to serve any purpose in the recessed cross guard of the dagger shown.

The 15th C fishtailed sword sounds interesting......could you post some pictures ? All the best

Regards David

[A Senefelder]

I am not aware of the flares being removed, it simply forms the little bit of forte ( very little in fact ) that exists at least on most of the later smallsword examples i've seen. I cannot find pics of Lee's sword, just one of the two swords of Lee's it was sitting next to. I think this one might be in "Records of the Medieval Sword ", I know a few of Lee's are.