The parrying dagger is a short weapon that was used in Europe during the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. This weapon was usually held in the left hand together with a one-handed sword, such as a side sword or rapier.
As the name suggests, the parrying dagger was designed to ward off attacks. For this reason, it often had a wide crossguard and sometimes other parts to provide extra hand protection. It could also be used to attack if the opportunity arose.
There are various types of parrying daggers, with the sword breaker and three-part dagger (trident dagger) being the most striking.
As sword fighting slowly developed into the modern sport of fencing, the parrying dagger fell out of fashion. The new weapons, such as the small sword, épée and foil, were lighter and faster. This left less time for the parrying dagger to be used efficiently.
Originating from the Quillon Dagger
Parrying daggers developed from the medieval quillon dagger, a dagger with a crossguard, which makes it look like a small sword. Parrying daggers appeared in the 16th century.
It featured sturdy straight or curved crossguards and sometimes an extra ring or shell-shaped guard at the grip.
There were also versions with wavy blades, serrated edges or holes in the blade to make it lighter.
At the beginning of the 17th century, this type largely disappeared and was replaced by the main gauche, which was particularly popular in Spain and Italy.
The sword breaker and the three-pronged dagger came later and were rarer.
Parrying daggers were often made as a set with the rapier — they would have the same style and decoration.
The Main Gauche
The main gauche (French for left hand) was primarily used to ward off the attacks of an opponent.
The right hand held a rapier or another one-handed sword.
The main gauche was large and sturdy, with a long, straight crossguard and often a wide knuckle bow that ran from the crossguard to the pommel.
This guard was usually triangular in shape. The edge of the grip often curved slightly outward, to be able to catch or deflect the tip of the enemy's sword.
The grip was usually made of wood, wrapped with metal wire, and the pommel matched that of the accompanying rapier.
The blade usually had three sections:
1. At the grip: a blunt section without an edge (ricasso) with sometimes holes or metal 'arms' to catch the enemy's blade.
2. In the middle: a single-edged section with a flat, triangular shape, often with small notches.
3. The point: double-edged with a diamond-shaped cross-section. Sometimes there were serrations or small teeth on a portion of this section.
There were many different versions: some with curved crossguards, round guards or blades with only two sections. This type reached its peak in the late 17th century but remained in use until the 18th century.
The Sword Breaker
The sword breaker was a dagger with deep notches on one side of the blade, somewhat like the teeth of a comb.
With this, the wearer could clamp or stop the opponent's sword.
Like the three-pronged dagger, this was a rare weapon because it was difficult to make.
A well-known example from Italy around 1600 can be seen in the Wallace Collection in London.
Although the name sword breaker suggests it could 'break' swords, this is unlikely. Most swords of that time were too strong to be broken by a single blow. However, lighter swords from the later Renaissance could sometimes crack or break from a hard collision.
Nowadays, the name is also used for small hooks or points on bucklers, which served the same purpose: to catch the opponent's weapon.
The Trident Dagger
The trident dagger (or three-part dagger) had a blade that could unfold into three parts.
When closed, it looked like an ordinary dagger, but when you pressed a button at the grip, the two sides would spring open through a spring mechanism, creating a trident shape. This allowed the wearer to clamp enemy swords. Like the sword breaker, this was a rare and special type of parrying dagger.
The Poniard
The poniard (or poignard in French) was a long, light thrusting dagger with a pointed tip and a cross-shaped crossguard.
It was often worn by nobility and knights in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, especially in France, Switzerland and Italy.
It resembles the parrying dagger but was lighter and designed for thrusting.
The poniard was also used in the army of Safavid Iran (1501–1736), especially by soldiers from the Caucasus (such as Circassians, Georgians and Armenians).
Modern Times
In modern fencing, weapons for the left hand are rarely used anymore.
In many combat sports, they are even prohibited.
But in HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) people still practice with rapier and dagger, and sometimes with backsword and dagger.
In kendo too, there is a style in which two swords of different sizes are used, called nito-ryu (literally "two-sword style").
