English/Italian Baselard 14th-15thC

The medieval Baselard dagger was very popular throughout Europe from Italy through to Scotland and everywhere in-between, but strangely, they had two very different forms. This English/Italian baselard (TC56) dagger had a very ‘capital H’ form and this is a classic example of this type.

The two arms are ‘pinched’ out from the same width as the blade, so the grip is quite narrow and the blade quite wide, and usually with either a fuller or a flat, so the blade transitions from a diamond to a hexagonal form near the hilt.

These were current and common all through the 14th and 15thC from the low born like Wat Tyler, through to knights and their effigies.

Overall length 44cm/17″

Blade length 31cm/12″

Grip length 10cm/4″

Edge sharpness

Semi-Sharp is ‘butter knife sharp’; it has a very fine flat on the edge

Sharp has been ground to give a reasonable cutting edge, but final honing, if required, is by the customer.

TC56

Two informational films below.