An Armful of Daggers! 

You do make some awesome, high quality stuff Tod, that's for sure.

I've got a dirk and a baselard from Tod. Embarrassingly good value given the lively "real" handmade feel of the things. I'd buy more but the wife would use them on me so I'm biding my time.

I think in a time when the use of ropes and knots would have been far more common in daily life, having a pricker would be incredibly useful for untying knots. Like the modern marlin spike. I use one in my work often. It saves your fingers

An Armful of Daggers? will your next video be A Few Daggers More?

What I love about Tod and his work is that he takes best of both historical facts and imagination. He's always referring to real historical pieces, but always thinks about how they can be improved. Complete copy can be boring and made up pieces can get over the top, but with Tod it's always the perfect mix: interesting, but believable. You only get that when you are both a craftsmen and an artist. You can feel how dedicated he is and how he loves what he's doing.

The Latin on the second dagger "DEXTERA DOMINI FECIT VIRTUTEM” translates literally as “The right hand (dextera) of the Lord (domini) made (fecit) excellence/virtue (virtutem).” The word “virtus” is difficult to translate, as it was a culturally important word for the ancient Romans, related to a man’s positive qualities--be they physical (e.g. strength) or mental (e.g. bravery). The English word “virtue” derives from the Latin “virtus”, but that translation distorts the ancient meaning. Lewis and Short’s Latin Dictionary defines “virtus” as “manliness, manhood, i. e. the sum of all the corporeal or mental excellences of man, strength, vigor; bravery, courage; aptness, capacity; worth, excellence, virtue, etc.” It is interesting that the feminine form of “right hand” (dexterea) is used, and not the masculine form “dexter”. Just an observation. Keep making great daggers and great videos, Tod!

Just for the record: The "k" in "Landsknecht" is not silent and the "s" (or maybe interpreted as "sk") is not pronounced "sh/sch". It's basically two words: "Lands-Knecht" or "Landes-Knecht", loosely translated to "servant of the country (/state/territory...)". Sometimes also called "Lanzknecht", meaning something like "Lance Servant". And because this is the YT comment section: No, I'm not offended/"triggered" or whatever by Tod/anyone mispronouncing a german word. He just seems like a guy who likes to learn and get things right. I'm just trying to help. If he ignores this, that's also fine :)

I just got the Stiletto - and gawd, it's wonderful. Seeing it on the site or in video (not this one) is one thing - but actually holding it in one's hands, the weight, the craftsmanship, it's awesome! So now, having watched Tod's daggers, I'm lusting after another one ... for showing off .. the Duerer, methinks ... I'll just add that owning one of Tod's pieces makes one want to own another one ... and another one ... Thanks, Tod!

I honestly don't remember ever clicking on a video with such enjoyment, despite knowing that it is pretty much 25 minutes of commercial. Love the (Tod's) stuff!

My intention was to have this video running in the background while I did some work... I could not look away, as it was so very informative and well delivered. It would be nice to know more about the blade details, but they are probably old hat for you. Diamond blades, reinforced tips, single-edged, double-edged, no-edged, etc. - the hows and whys. So brilliant that you did this as a follow-up to the prior video, where you mentioned a few different styles in passing while carrying an armload of blades!

If nonsense about pocket knives has taught me anything, presumably the pricker is for getting stones out of horses hooves

Every single one if these looks amazing.

I could listen to you talk about knives all day

Thanks for the pointer to the First Book of Fashion; it sounds fascinating. 7:29 "... this is a businessman's tool." I bet that businessman makes a real killing. 9:06 That dagger with the weird blade almosts sounds like it should be a McGuffin in a Dan Brown pot-boiler; a strange key disguised as a dagger. Whenever Todd says, "hollow ground", my old ears hear, "hologrammed". 15:08 "This is about as fighty a fighty dagger as you could possibly get." 11/10 Would definitely stab and stab again. Stabby McStabface, Stab Adviser. This is a beautiful collection of daggers.Thank you for sharing them all.

Thank you Tod. You really inspire me to get back into my books and build. I make armor but have made several small knives and axes. I love your channel and the quality of your content. I pray the Lord continues to bless you.

Todd i may be a bit off topic, but i have really interresting idea for you to try. You wanted us to suggest some weird or unusual weapons to make. Suggested, but i was late, so I´m reposting it here. Fast spanning crossbow from codex Löffelholz (1505). It's not by any means weird weapon, but it's rather unusual. And you are excellent crossbowmaking master, i think it would be interresting for you. It's crossbow containing integrated spanning lever. It is probably based on da Vinci's ballestra veloce from 1485, which is really similar and also interresting. Quite similar to your latchet crossbow in basic principle, but in size of regular medieval field crossbows. It allows use of comparable draw weights as goat's foot lever, but with bit faster spanning, since you are not messing with separate spanning device. I have myself made both (Löffelholz and goat's foot) and it is truly faster to reload. Only by bit. But much more comfortable. I have no information about surviving real life examples, but the drawing in codex is detailed enoug that it allowed me to make it myself. I guess it was not much used due to production costs, but as nobleman's toy it would do quite good:-D Even as hunting weapon, although the loading mechanism is bit noisy. Here video of me shooting it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XpgbHJv5L2I.html And under the video is link containing some photos of it. You would certainly make much better version, so i would like to see, how good this design can get. And also huge thank you to you. You inspired me to make my own crossbows. I am an amateur knifemaker, but this is also real fun. And you showed me how to do so many things. Lashings... bow irons, basics of trigger mechanisms, stringing those things (ugh:-D) and much more... PS: This is my third crossbow (second steel proddes one). I guess 170 m of range with that is quite good, but i still have some work to do. And i only cut my prods out of leaf springs. I ave no means of heat treatment of such large objects. PPS: I Wanted here also photos, but youtube doesn't like external links. PPPS: Really love all your videos.Thanks for the great crossbow info... And also for any other informations, but when iťs about crossbows, you are the best source...

Have one your lovely bollock daggers. And have been inspired to make my own reenactment safe daggers with guards that aren't so heavy the whole thing spins round on your belt using that gorgeous sandwich method. Beautiful work keep it up.

Historically accurate educational commercials are the best commercials.

I'm always just stunned because of the fine craftsmanship and all these amazing items on your channel 🙌

I appreciate this daggardly appeal to a common market.

Love it. Wish our knife laws weren't so backwards in the UK so i could order one of these and wear it daily.

The 90° angle handle could potentially make it easier for the intended user to make a certain strike into a weak point of plate mail but I don’t really know much about medieval knife fighting to really say for sure

What is amazing is your skill to photo a sword ,daggar, knife and create a copy of it that takes dedication and skill. I'm glad I bought from you. You can tell you are passionate about what you do and connect with your customers. Love to support businesses like this. Much love from the USA to the UK ❤✌

This man is absolutely brilliant.

Just out of curiosity, as a butcher with a lot of interest in the history of the trade I’ve been wanting to collect some replicas or original traditional equipment to display in my shop. I was wondering what sort of blades would have originally been used in the trade and if you have made them?

Love these! Great insights into the thinking that goes in behind each piece.

Thank you for a fantastic vid amazing blades and a great talk.

“Is become glorious in power” you’re welcome….love your work by the way!

It's super cool to hear about your process and learn about history as well as see these gorgeous pieces of art.

Trying to convince my family they need to buy me one for the holidays

One day I'll get one of those, they're just amazing

What a fantastic way to combine art, weaponry, history, entertainment and self-advertising! I was never bored nor felt put-upon.

Great work and thank you for your lovely craftsmanship!

i love watching these types of videos especially as i like smithing as a hobby

Love your daggers, the quality and craftsmanship is superb, thanks Tod

Always love these and the videos about prop weapons. Incredible how much thought goes into everything. 👍

It is always interesting to watch these videos. Thanks for making the daggers and for making the videos.

When do we get "For a few daggers more" ? Loved the Burgundian one particularly and the blades on all looked gorgeous.

Shame about the Royal Armouries access policy. I wonder what the reasoning is that would cause them to differ from so many other institutions?

I absolutely love the stiletto I purchased from him. Amazing value for a hand made piece😎👌🏻

Could never be over long Tod

8:10 Germany: Your knife _must be_ shorter than 12cm for you to carry it Switzerland: Your knife _must be_ longer than 30cm for you to carry it

Wow, one of your most informative and detailed videos ever. Thank you. And some beautiful craftsmanship.

That bauernwehr is lovely. I’m a big fan of the blade profile

I really like this video, how you laid out your process and your thoughts on each piece. I would love to see more in this style.

Thank you , Tod .

Ordered a 13th-16th century eating knife from Tod on tuesday. Showed up today and it's lovely :) my mates gonna love it. Thanks Tod!

Nice collection. I loved the history on them and the reasoning for their designs, or your designs. My favorites were the quilon daggers.

Bought a dirk. Arrived the day before this video went up. Couldn't be happier with it. Tod does awesome work.

Sometimes I just love the internet. I honestly don't recall how I found the channel, what I searched for, or how it entered into my feeds, but once I Did, I've learnt so much, watching every clip, with no previous interest in the subject matter. This channel has however given me a great interest, so, many thanks Tod, love the channel.

A beautiful selection of your handiwork! I could’ve listened for twice as long! I would like to see how they were attached to a period belt.

Right off, without watching anymore than the first 30 seconds, YAY!!!! Ramble on bud. Love the information!

That ringhilted baselard is gorgeous

Thank you for this video! I’ve been writing a story with a character who is given a dagger. Now I know just what it should look like and BEST OF ALL I know proper terminology! Sweet!!

In my opinion the pricker is a tool for making the holes in letters so they can be "spiral-locked", a common method of securing letters during the 16th and 17th centuries before the envelope was developed.

Love each item I've bought from you!!!

Funny you post this! I was just looking at your daggers in your shop!

Love to see some videos of you making one of those pieces

I'm from Brazil, and i've always been fascinated by the gaucho knife, so when i discovered HEMA, what really caught my attention was the spanish navaja and the german messer and bauernwehr... That bauernwehr you showed is so amazing. I reaaly wish i could see more of it.

Very informative thank you.

Exellent pieces of cold weapons))

My personal favorites are the Wallace rondel In ebony, the fine wasp-waisted ebony ballock dagger and the Burgundian ebony rondel. Great work as always Tod! They are all lovely.

It looks like the algorithm is back to working. I didn't have to go seek this one out. Thanks Tod for another great one!

your passion comes through in your explinations of the pieces. makes me pumped, could have been a 4hr video and I would have loved every minute

Love all your stuff Tod. I now own two of your Daggers, one Dirk and one Antenna Dagger and three eat knifes.

Tod I’m definitely going to get my hands on one of your amazing daggers some day!

For some reason, I always have been more attracted to Daggers. Something about the Amazing Skill it would take to fight with one plus they are just so freaking cool Always something I imagine a Rogue or assassin using

I love the dagger videos ^-^

The 90° slab tang dagger makes complete sense when used against armour. The narrow slit at the arm hole would be one of the few access points for a stabbing weapon. You would want the blade to present narrow side on so its taper does not jamb in the narrow slot and stop the penetration. The twisted handle would do this. The wrist movement required for a standard blade to present in this way is difficult.

I just bought the irish scean as a gift for my partner and its gorgeous.

Thanks for sharing 👍

I've never seen anything like that piece with the huge dagger & utensil set all in one. Really cool.

Very enjoyable, i like your product presentations. The story behind them is very intresting to me :)

The Pricker: we're thinking about it as a modern person. In past times, you would not have to argue the use or importance of a spikey piece of metal

👍 keep it up awesome stuff.

18:25 reminds me of a Karambit. That is a tiny sickle with a loop at the end of the grip that you can either put your pinky or your index finger through, depending on how you hold it. You can't hold the dagger like that, but you can also use the loop to break somebody else's fingers. Completely situational, but it's an effective way to break someone's grip.

Well I'm going to spend the next half hour or more drooling through your catalogue, again, so I'd call this a successful video!

1:49 "I'll try and be faster on the rest" Don't though I love nerding out on the details

Parachuting Spider just made in at the end 😅 Nicely done Sir.

I think the Pricker had the same fork purpose

C'mon Collections/Museums - let Tod come touch your stuff so he can make your stuff!!! Lovely work Tod!

Fantastic craft work and video. Pure art. Tod, I am curious your view on how long daggers last and how long were they used? Was it common for a dagger to be used decades or more from when it was made? Would it have looked out of place, in another period?

You simply cannot have enough daggers!

woepie hele berg staal ! leuk!

great video

I'm going to save up my allowance and give it all to Tod.

The pricker was used for the exact same thing we would use it for now. Let's face it we all have a need for a long pointy tool at some point in time. Especially when leather was as a much more used every day material than it is now. This sounds more "camp" than intended but you know what I mean.

Lovely stuff. Merry Christmas to me and you now that my pressie is on it's way. Hopefully the Royal Armouries took that bit of well articulated advice on board. There isn't going to be a rush on crafting these things if they loosen up. It is not like many people still have these skills and if a few more learn all the better.

Would love to see what Matt Easton could do with a 90° slab tang dagger. As always though, incredible work Todd!

It's really amazing how much longevity the quillon dagger design has had. the fairbairn-sykes fighting knife, which i think is still in use by armed forces all over the world in some capacity, is a quillon dagger. the ka-bar also has a quillon, despite being more of a single edged utility knife (although still good for fighting, just less focused than the F-S). i imagine the design will be with us as long as fighting knives are being made.

Hallo Tod. About the "Bauernwehr" and its eating implements. The prick was indead used for eating. In the middle ages they didn't use forks for eating. It's also useful for other things 😁. Great video 👍

Awesome video, you should do one on an eared dagger!

Imagine how people will talk about our knives: flippers, autos, every type

You should make a parrying dagger! Would love to see that.

I jst saw your work on a vidio. Very impressive..I'm gna have to try and figure out how to get one..it eould be my grail knife.. and to me daggers are my favorite edged weapon.

The dagger with the spike in it was it found around the ocean I've seen spikes used for opening and shucking oysters or shellfish considered an eating Spike

I like the falcata style swords. Been thinking of making an Amentum type throwing spear too. Atlatls don't spin the projectile.

bloody hell, he smiled!

I wanted to get the second bollock dagger but I didn't want to explain to my girlfriend why I got a knife with cock and balls on it. I think we're not ready to have that talk yet. So I got the quillon dagger instead. Can't wait till it gets here.

Glad I didn't get the green scabbard for my rondel from you now, wonder about whether the blue dye is the same, realism-wise, do really love the orange coloured leather.