BLADED WEAPONS

Skyavone of Venice, 1700.

Today we offer you to touch at the features of our site - 1700. This year was made great Venetian Skyavone that we want to show you.

But first, what is Skyavone and how to treat it.

In the 15-18 centuries the independent Republic of Venice was holding under his rule Dalmatia.Was a country in the Balkans, there is no more - in 1945, its territory was divided between Croatia and Montenegro.

I must say that the rulers of Venice  - doji - happy to take the service Dalmatian mercenaries and armed at his own expense. They were distinguished by courage and the fact that they prefer a special kind of sword. </ P>

Its main feature was the pommel in the form close to the shape of a square, unusual for its time.This type of sword called "Slavic" or, in Italian, "La espada schiavona" - Skyavone. (The word in Italian is feminine, like the sword - Espada).

Over time, the guard Skyavone becoming more like a basket that helps protect the hand of a warrior. Its blade was originally wide, designed for cutting hard, began to take very different forms, including clearly saber. But the main thing - angular pommel - remained unchanged.

But back to our Skyavone. Its overall length of 113.5 cm.

Her straight, double-edged blade with three fullers running parallel. Two Dole, the ones that are on the edges of the core, shorter, and therefore come to an end sooner.

Hand warrior protected reliable "basket" of intertwined steel strips.

And as the curtain fell, closeup famous angular pommel Skyavone. It is made of brass, in the center - the lion's muzzle. Here is the following:

Dagger "Bullock" - the men's dagger.

In the Middle Ages there were several types of daggers. Each of them differs from other forms of his arm:

• Quilon is a miniature copy of the sword ,
• Symmetrical handle Baselard resembled Latin «I»,
• at Rondel was flat round guard and pommel is the same,
• on the hilt of a dagger eared were two circular disc-like ears,
• Bullock was characterized by two round protrusions on the Garda.

From left to right: Bullock, Baselard, Quilon, eared dagger roundel.

The name "Bullock" is derived from the phallic shape of its handle (two balls on the guard combined with handle), as well as the propensity of the soldiers of the 14th century to wear a dagger right in front of the belt. In Russian the name is translated as "a dagger with eggs."Another name coined by historians of the Victorian era - "kidney dagger" - an apparent attempt to downplay sexy shade shape of a dagger.

Bullock appeared in the images around 1300-1350 years, and the history of its use is one of the longest among the five major types of medieval daggers. On the continent it was used throughout the 16th century, and in England it form continued into the 17th century as «dudgeon dagger» or "dagger-offender." Only in Scotland Bullock continued to use throughout the 18th century, and we know it under the name of the Scottish Dirk.

A few examples of the appearance of Bullock artwork.

Bullock was used throughout Europe by all classes of the population. Early images show that Bullock was originally a knight's weapon. More detailed study of daggers that appeared later, tells us that Bullock is also becoming the weapon of merchants and artisans. Of course, there are very simple and rough variants daggers, which, in all probability, have been used by peasants.

Blade.

Types of Knives Bullock vary widely. One of the first and most common forms of it was one-sided sharpened blade, which had a triangular shape and uniformly tapered from the handle to the tip.Sometimes the blade for added strength did quadrangular in cross-section.

At the beginning of the 15th century are becoming popular uniformly tapered edges of the blades.By the second half of the 15th century, the blade edges are thinner, they are provided with a thick diamond-shaped protrusion and the ricasso. (Ricasso - it's part of the blade near the guard that is not sharpened, and because it can put your finger.)

This later version continued existence throughout the 16th century, and a diamond protrusion on the blade becomes so thick that the blade can be seen as tetrahedral. It has been observed that such tetrahedral blades were the most common form in the 16th century.

Lots of different types of blade Bullock.

One type of Bullock, who was rather recognizable style blade, rather than the form of the handle was "a dagger-abuser." In the 17th century, these blades are supplied with an abundance of engraving and gilding and uniformly tapered from the handle to the tip. Almost all of them had ricasso and options without him was rather the exception to the rule.

Other forms of the blade, including copies of swords, continued to appear throughout the Middle Ages, but these were isolated cases, it is not typical for blades Bullock. Bullock considered relatives can only sharpened unilaterally Scottish Dirks 18th century.

Each of these has its own kind of dagger blade.

Although the shape of the blade Bullock changed during the entire period of their use, the length of it has remained virtually unchanged. In most cases the length of the blade is equal to three or four lengths of the handle, so the blades are from 10 to 16 inches in length, i.e. 25 - 40 centimeters.

Of course, like any other weapon with such a long history, Bullock knew exceptions to the rule.The best examples come across the Baltic Sea, dates from the 16th century and are equipped with blades, slightly longer handle.

Hilt.

In its earliest and simplest form Bullock handle was made from a single piece of wood, such as ebony, rose, heather and holly, with no metal parts.

Shares that have shaped the Garda were large and well-rounded, and the cutting arm and ended with a round bulge could shrink in one direction or another conically.

Finally, a handle used for other materials, including the horn, ivory and in later designs, and even copper agate. By the early 15th tsoletiya they have provided with metal plates, which strengthened the grip between the hilt and blade. This form of the handle used throughout the life of this type of daggers.

Daggers with wooden handles.

At the beginning of the 15th century there was another type of Bullock and used in conjunction with the original form. Projections guard remained the same, but moved up to the pommel shape of an inverted cone. It ends with a flat butt, which is usually covered with a metal plate.Sometimes this plate engraved geometric patterns.

By the end of the 15th century, a third form of the handle. It ends with a flat or slightly rounded pommel, which could - though not necessarily, the cover plate. Handle this type most often was flat, but there are also examples of cut or carved spiral handles.

However, not only stick, but the guards changed to the beginning of the 15th century. Some daggers were 3 shares in the guard instead of the usual two. In addition, the metal plate that separates the pommel of the sword, became thicker, longer and posing with a slope to the blade, giving almost as Quilon.

In northern France and Flanders share guard made of metal, and in Northern Germany not only share but also the pommel in the shape of a disk, so it was metal.

Daggers with metal tabs on the guides.

In the 16th century can be seen all the same phallic shape of a dagger with inverted conical tops. However, both forms grow, become more subtle and impressive.

Phallic-shaped handle is getting longer and almost columnar. Sometimes they were grooved and often faceted.

The pommel was convex, but also often conical. While some items were almost without tops.

Shares guards have become smaller and crescent-shaped, and usually the blade and Hardy separated metal plate. During this period, the handle is usually made of a single piece of material.

In general, Bullock with conical tops followed the same trends as their more phallic colleagues.The exception in the development Bullock was only one region - on the shores of the Baltic Sea.

Bullock called Poke, Poeke, or Poicke, characterized by a phallic-shaped handle with tapered finial, shares of which were attached to the rods. Was a double-edged dagger from the tops of the tip of the blade.

Variety daggers-offenders.

In England, often stick Bullock made of boxwood, which is also called, so sometimes Bullock called "daggers-offenders."

In the 17th century the hilt "dagger-offender" is made from natural boxwood. In England it is often called dudgeon («offender") -otsyuda and gave the name of a dagger. Handle it was very similar to the type of phallic dagger hilt of the 16th century, but became longer. In addition, it did grooved and / or faceted, octagonal or hexagonal in cross-section.

Shares cross Bullock fell and formed a neat crescent shape. It is limited to iron or steel tape to ricasso, engraved and gilded, as well as fortified diamond tip.

The last major kind of stick Bullock appeared in the 18th century with the development of the Scottish Dirk. The basic form of continued trend of "dagger-offender", including minority stakes, though they have become more flattened and elongated. In most instances still remain as metal strips between the handle and blade.

However, instead of a phallic-shaped, cylindrical steel handle, cuttings get a flat pommel decorated with a metal plate. It is usually made of brass, but also use other metals, including tin, silver, and gold.

Corrugation was replaced by a complex interplay of pattern or handle decorated with small studs.Of course, it is very simple smooth handle also took place during this period.

Early Scottish Dirk with forms Bullock.

Sheath.

Sheath for Bullock were very diverse, regardless of the era in which they were made. Sometimes it was a simple leather case without metal fasteners. Sometimes they were leather strips with metal hanger. There are wooden scabbard covered with leather. There are at least one sheath made entirely of silver.

In most cases, later had a metal sheath and neck very long metal ferrules. In addition to that, since 1416 and throughout the 16th century, they also had a little extra pockets for knives, awls and other support tools that emphasize the utilitarian nature of Bullock.

Bullock with a sheath, an awl and a knife, a collection of Wallace.

As mentioned above, in the 14th century Bullock often worn directly in front of the belt, justifying its name. Whatever it was, this was not wearing universal. With civilian clothes, as a rule, Bullock wore right behind the waist purse, or is he just hung through the belt loops.

In the 15th century dagger often worn on the right in a horizontal position on the belt or on the back. This diversity sheath was used and many ways to wear a dagger.

Historical examples.

Here are examples of authentic Bullock:

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Perfect example Bullock classical form, dates back to the late 15th century and is French or Flemish.

Royal Armouries in Leeds, United Kingdom.

This copy is probably English. Here depicts an extremely complex geometry of the blade flat unsharpened ricasso and rhombic zatochennnym pommel. Cylindrical shank end spherical pommel.

Museum of London.

Civil dagger, dated 1450 year, with one-sided sharpened blade and more defensive shares.

Is in a private collection.

Found during excavations Flemish dagger dates from the early 17th century. It is equipped with a one-sided sharpened blade of triangular section. Its wooden handle is topped with a conical seizure iron finial in the form of a disk. The iron blade is separated from the share of cross blade.

Is in a private collection.

Copy of the 16th or 17th century, found in the River Thames, Flemish or English, the length of 19.25 inches. Triangular wedge-shaped blade has a one-sided sharpening. Carved wooden handle is equipped with an iron pommel.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

French or Flemish copy of the second half of the 15th century. Guard consists of three lobes, unlike usual two. Hilt and pommel metal.

German Museum of Blades.

Lovely German sample the second half of the 15th century. Elegant handle and decorative finial create a special style.

Royal Armouries in Leeds, United Kingdom.

"Dagger-offender" length of 15.5 inches is English or Scottish and work dates from about 1620 a year. According to legend, this type of dagger was armed Colonel Thomas Blood, when he attempted to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671.

Is in a private collection.

Dagger Flemish origin late 16th - early 17th century. Durable tapered blade is marked with the manufacturer. The wooden handle is a later replacement and covered with iron pommel.

Wallace Collection.

Probably Flemish dagger second half of the 15th century, complete with an awl, knife and sheath.

Is in a private collection.

Lovely French or English sample of about 1470 with a carved ivory handle with silver mounts.Dagger 17.75 inches in length, the blade 12.375 inches in length. Additional tabs guard made of steel. Double-edged blade rhombic in cross-section.

German Museum of Blades.

Italian copy of the 15th century, the work of art with a triangular blade, widely-expanding metal cutting disc ends.

Is in a private collection.

Rare beams of the second half of the 15th century, originally from Northern Europe, length 15.25 inches. Hard diamond blade in cross-section at the hilt blends in with pentagonal cross section.Barrel-shaped disk blank, at the base of the blade is covered with gold leaf.

Is in a private collection.

Another example of sharply tapering blade, dates from the late 14th - early 15th century, has a long triangular blade and a reinforced tip. The handle consists of dramatically expanding grip and metal knobs. Total length of 15.25 inches.

Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Discovered during excavations copy of the 15th century, a single-edged blade of a typical example of a handle with additional projections.

Is in a private collection.

Dagger lowland Scots, dated 1610 year. The length of 14.25 inches, 10-inch concave blade triangular in cross-section, inlaid with copper. Octagonal pommel on the hilt with a spiral groove.Shares guard underwent corrugated.

Whereabouts are unknown.

French or Flemish origin dagger length of 15.5 inches. Sharing has a mushroom shape with brass pommel cap in place with the image of the Virgin and Child.

Victoria and Albert Museum.

"Dagger - offender", the blade of which is dated 1605 year. On the blade - the motto «Ask me not for Schame, drink lis and by ane». 15.25 inches long dagger. Pay attention to the complex geometry of the blade.

Is in a private collection.

Length 18 inches. This copy may be of English manufacture dates back 1520 year. Rounded cutting arm consists of several sections, dramatically expanding on pommel engraved brass disk.Flattened blade has a long false edge.

Is in a private collection.

English concave blade Bullock 17.25 inches rhombic in cross section with a groove along its length. Sharing a wooden handle with faceted steel strip and brass finial.

Philadelphia Museum of Art.

A rare instance of a triangular handle, expanding triangular handle and blade. The dagger was found during excavations in pretty bad shape.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Dates from the second half of the 15th century. Western European dagger with a sharpened blade, triangular in cross-section over the entire length. However, his blade ends tetrahedral awl.Sharing the hilt carved, wooden, topped with brass finial. Pretty great copy - the length of 18 inches and a weight of 11 ounces.

Royal Armouries in Leeds, United Kingdom.

Bullock 15th century with carved bone handle and a metal finial, was found in the river Scheldt in Antwerp.

And finally ...

Bullock have a long history and can be found throughout the British Isles and continental Europe.It was a universal weapon and tool that is used on the battlefield and beyond. In its earliest and simplest form, the dagger was relatively easy to manufacture, which may have led to its widespread use, while its phallic shape indicated the rude men of the Middle Ages.

Despite the fact that throughout the 16th century and early 17th beams has not lost its popularity, its use and production began to decline. Standardization in military technology and weapons, along with the rise of firearms, limited the usefulness of using daggers. This, paired with the invention of the bayonet in the 17th century, virtually ensured Bullock disappearance from the battlefield.

In the civilian world, beams ousted style and fashion. He was replaced by a dagger for the left hand, or main gauche, which could be used in conjunction with a rapier for self-defense and in a duel. Complex hilt rapier and main gauche better than Bullock, defended hand. Only in the more conservative and less advanced regions of England and Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries, the beams are still in use - in the form of dudgeon dagger and Dirk.