Rondel Daggers

The favored hilt of the man at arms and fencing master for nearly one-hundred and seventy-five years, characterized by a normally disk shaped guard, perpendicular to and above and below the grip. The term used is modern. Achieved general use by at least 1325.

Baselards

A knightly dagger of the fourteenth century and more a civilian weapon of the fifteenth (possibly originating in the thirteenth), this dagger had a relatively two dimensional hilt in the shape of a capitol I. The term is most likely proper historical nomenclature. It is accepted as the forerunner of the swiss or holbein dagger.

There is no man worth a leke,
Be he sturdy, be he meke,
But he bear a basilard.

Quillon Daggers

A wide and varied category, these are named for their guards, often resembling small scale copies of contemporary swords. Evidence shows they began use during the thirteenth century.

Ballock or Kydney Daggers

These daggers are primarily classified by two rounded protrusions in place of a guard (and many of their hilts are somewhat phalliform). The term ballock is more original, kydney is a victorian term which has stuck. It existed from around 1300 to well into the sixteenth century, and is accepted as the forerunner of the scottish dirk.

Eared Daggers

Existed probably from the late 14th century, and identified by two disks at the pommel, granting it its relatively modern name (possibly from the 16th century).

Cinquedeas

This term is somewhat of a misnomer, but now universally accepted. Extant from the middle of the fifteenth century. It is characterized mainly by the blade, which also gives it an often distinct hilt. The blade is very broad at the base, often "5 fingers wide" and usually tapers straight to a point, giving it a long triangular silhouette.

Peasant Knives or Hauswehren

Simple knives often carried by villagers or peasants. German writers have called them Hauswehre or "home defence" knives. Often resembling a large butcher knife with a guard, generally having a single edged blade. Often much like a diminutive langes messer familiar to martial artists of contemporary styles. Accepted as a direct offshoot of the scramasax and ancestor of the Bowie knife. It remained in use as late as the early 17th century.

Next, I'll outline a new attempt at a general classification for the blade forms, inspired by the Oakeshott sword typology (which, as far as I'm aware, has not been attempted before). The dagger blades are naturally far fewer in variation than those of swords, but there was still a wider variety that most are ignorant of. It is important to note that though some hilt types are generally associated with a blade form, nearly all of these following blade forms were found on nearly all of the hilt types, so it's important not to make fast any associations with them.

Due to the naturally smaller number of blade forms on daggers, the typology is not nearly as important as that for sword blades, and arguably not even necessary, but the distinction between blade forms is just as important and should be noted even if a typology nomenclature is not used. These are general and arranged by effective use, not aesthetics (which could very well quadruple the list at least).

I have broken them down into four basic types, each containing two subtypes. Some rough general hand measurements are given.

Type 1 (double edged)

1b. This type is as the above, but has a broader blade and normally less taper for most of its length. This kind is also often found with a strong midrib. Generally from just under two to as many as four or even five fingers wide, normally about two fingers wide at the shoulder.

Type 1.5 (three quarter edged)

Type 2 (single edged)

2b. This type is as above, but with a broader blade and perhaps less taper. Generally from one and a half to three fingers wide at the shoulder, normally about two fingers wide at the shoulder.

Type 3 (no edge)

3b. This is a compromise between the above and the utility of an edged blade. The blade (single edged in its most obvious form) flares out into an unflattened diamond or triangular cross section for roughly the last quarter of the blade. Some variations will flare out again nearer the hilt. Generally one to two fingers wide at the shoulder.

Note: As fighting knives, many of the blades would range from nearly a foot, to blurring the lines with a sword. Much shorter, and it blurs the lines between a weapon of self defense or utility tool. Given those, it's a judgement call on how it could be best used, and length has little bearing on the typology.

For a good general length on a medieval combat knife that works particularly well with the contemporary fighting arts, Master Phillipo Vadi noted in his De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi, that when gripped in the hand, the point should touch the elbow. He gave preference to the rondel dagger with a possible 2a blade type, saying it should have one edge and two corners. The picture he provides, however, looks to be possibly a rondel of blade type 1a or 3a.

All of these medieval dagger types primarily rely on the point. In types 1 through 2, both subtypes are dual purpose, but subtype a has a definite emphasis on the point. Subtype b provides a more balanced cut and thrust ability.