#bollock dagger

[armthearmour]

A lovely Bollock Dagger with a horn grip,

OaL: 15 cm/38.1 cm

Weight: 7.1 oz/200 g

Western Europe, 15th century, housed at the Kunsthistorischesmusuem, Vienna.

[bad-system]

bollock daggers — what are they?

i wanted to cover one of the commonly seen items in KCD2 because they're just as silly as you'd think—the bollocks dagger!

one of the longest trending fashion statements in recent history, the bollocks daggers were in use from 12-13th century until 17-18th century. the name comes exactly from what you're thinking—the carefully carved bollocks (aka testicles) above the guard.

this dagger's handle emerged likely among commoners first before entering the sphere of nobility. it was intentionally phallic, because people thought it to be funny. that's pretty much it.

kubyenka's bollock dagger—mounted unusually high up. cock shame?

bollock daggers were more utilitarian rather than knightly—they weren’t really made for combat the way a rondel dagger was. warriors usually preferred their swords and rondels. this was more of a commoner’s tool, something practical, a bit of a status marker, but mostly just part of everyday wear.

godwin's well used bollock dagger.

bollock daggers were most commonly threaded through the gap in the pouch on your belt. they were also often set in front of one's own crotch for reasons you're likely once again thinking—yes, it was supposed to look like your cock.

a nobleman with a "properly" displayed bollock dagger in front of his crotch. source from Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry.

there are some unlikely theories that say that bollock daggers were shaped like that because knights used them to stab the vulnerable and unprotected areas between the armour gaps on one's groin, but this is more than likely just sensationalistic, because like i mentioned before, these weren't really combat daggers.

adder's rondel dagger with a round pommel. round pommels on the other hand were much more specialized for stabbing, with their large and wide round area assisting the action.

here are some more images of characters seen brandishing a bollock dagger; one of my personal favourites being istvan toth.

istvan toth's... polished and elegant bollock dagger.

honourable mention goes to hanush of leipa.

hanush's bollock dagger. what a fashion statement piece.

all KCD screenshots provided by @telafel refs.

[ravenuex]

Rocky sketch I added to another set of sketches today for extra silly goofy

From left to right - bollock dagger, Ghal Maraz hammer and cold snap dagger (bg3)

[sceptixfakemon]

weapon props for bringing my kit to cons :] arming sword and bollock dagger :]

materials used: eva foam, pva glue, painter's tape, tinfoil, steel rods, foam clay, cotton fabric, acrylic paint.

wip pics:

[blue-dissolve]

Nicolas with a bollock dagger. Don't handle it too much, you'll go blind.

[theoutcastrogue]

"Daggers and poniards", from Guide des amateurs d'armes et armures anciennes by Auguste Demmin (1869), translated as Weapons of War by C.C. Black (1870)

pages with captions after the cut

[rudjedet]

hey do you guys want to see another bollock dagger

why am I asking of course you do

[kultofathena]

Tod Cutler – Early 18th Century Scottish Dirk

Tod Cutler’s 18th Century Scottish Dirk brings all the classical elements of the Highlander’s iconic sidearm together. The dirk of the Scots was not just a tool for war, but a weapon for everyday self defense that was so ubiquitous as to become a symbol of the Scottish Clan system. Popular also with the Lowland Scots and well as the Highlanders, the Scottish Dirk was an evolution of the Medieval Bollock dagger with clear similarities to the older dagger.

Like the originals, this dirk has a high carbon steel blade that is both long and rigid and ideal for capably piercing through thick cloaks and clothing with little effort. The polished, carved grip of hardwood is surmounted by a bolster and pommel cap of fine cast brass with a heart motif; a common and classic embellishment seen on many originals.

Included is a sheath of durable leather with embossed detailing, a brass cap and lacing cord for attachment to your belt or personage.