Main-Gauche Parrying Dagger with Fluted Hairy Vitex Burl

Product Description for Main-Gauche Parrying Dagger with Fluted Hairy Vitex Burl

Maker: Neels van den Berg, M.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 100776
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 17.60 in.
Cutting edge length: 15.40 in.
Total length: 23.00 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.12 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.23 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.19 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.07 in.
Item weight: 26.20 oz.
Shipment weight: 35.2 oz.
Blade: Hand forged 1084 carbon steel with an antiqued finish
Bolster: Forged quillion guard and pierced mild steel basket
Handle: Fluted hairy vitex burl
Sheath: Leather sheath with matching throat and tip
Description: Visiting Journeyman Smith Neels van den Berg's workshop on a recent trip to South Africa was a real treat. His forge is pretty much in the middle of nowhere -- or at least if you kept driving down the road, that is clearly where it would end. The twisting road travels through veldt populated by zebra and other wild animals. Neels is well known for his war hammers, spike hawks, and highly refined knives.
The main-gauche (French for "left hand") was used mainly to assist in parrying incoming thrusts, while the dominant hand wielded a rapier or similar longer weapon intended for one-handed use. The parrying dagger was in great use from the European late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, but fell out of favor as sword fighting evolved into the modern sport of fencing.
The blade is hand forged from 1084 carbon steel and features an antiqued, blackened finish. This helps protect the knife from rust and gives it an antiqued, non reflective look. The large 17-1/2 inch blade has been heavily carved and fileworked. Neels' maker mark is engraved in the ricasso.
The handle is formed from hairy vitex burl (Vitex obovata). This African wood has a warm brown tone and a tremendous grain pattern reminiscent of redwood burl and thuya burl. The dramatic wood was meticulously hand fluted and set with sterling silver twisted wire. The handle meets perfectly with the fluted bronze spacers and pommel.
The guard is forged from 1084 carbon steel. The basket is formed from mild steel that has been carved and pierced with decoration. This painstaking process is extremely time consuming and must be done to perfection to not show obvious flaws. A video showing the guard being prepared is shown at the bottom of the page. Bronze is used throughout the basket, detailing the handle. This is among Neels' masterworks to date!
To keep the dagger protected during storage, a single-seam leather sheath with a matching decorated throat and tip is included.
Exceptional work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available