Types of Daggers with Names and Pictures

Dagger Types at a Glance

Compare the principal types by region and identifying features. The table follows the order of the main entries below; select a name to jump to its description. Ritual blades and related knives and swords are discussed separately.

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European Dagger Types

European dagger names may describe a hilt, blade shape, regional tradition, or purpose. These categories overlap: a quillon dagger is identified by its crossguard, while a parrying dagger is named for its role alongside a sword.

Modern interpretations of these forms can be found in our collection of Damascus daggers.

Rondel Dagger

The rondel dagger is a late medieval European sidearm recognizable by the disc-shaped guard and pommel enclosing its grip. Its blade is generally narrow and pointed, suited primarily to thrusting. Blade cross-sections and cutting edges vary, so the hilt provides the clearest identifying feature.

Knights carried rondel daggers during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, including in armored combat. A Philadelphia Museum of Art example dated around 1400 has a triangular-section blade sharpened along only one edge.

Bollock Dagger

The bollock dagger, also called a ballock knife or kidney dagger, is identified by two rounded lobes at the base of its grip. The grip and lobes were often carved from one piece of wood or horn. The form was widespread in northern Europe during the late medieval and early modern periods.

Blades vary in outline and edge arrangement. The Mary Rose’s surviving dagger handles retain slots indicating that almost all held single-edged blades. These finds also document use as working knives as well as weapons.

Baselard

The baselard, also spelled basilard, has a broad guard and pommel joined by a narrow grip, giving the hilt an I-shaped outline. Late medieval examples range from compact daggers to sidearms approaching sword size. The name is associated with Basel, Switzerland.

London Museum’s collection record notes that baselards appear to have been popular with wealthy London merchants. Their use as fashionable civilian sidearms distinguishes them from dagger names tied specifically to military service. That sword-sized end of the range is documented: the London Museum baselard (80.34) has a blade of 25 13/16 in. (65.5 cm), an overall length of 30 13/16 in. (78.2 cm), and a weight of 2 lb. 3.3 oz. (1,000 g).

Quillon Dagger (Knightly or Cross-Hilt Dagger)

A quillon dagger has a crossguard whose projecting arms are called quillons. Medieval examples often resemble a small sword in their grip, guard, and pommel; “knightly dagger” and “cross-hilt dagger” describe this general form. Later designs may add side rings or other hand protection.

The name identifies a hilt feature. A parrying dagger can also have quillons, although it is classified by its fencing role. Modern interpretations include this European quillon dagger.

Parrying Dagger (Main-Gauche)

A parrying dagger was carried with a sword, particularly a rapier, in European fencing. It is often called a main-gauche, French for “left hand.” Sixteenth- and seventeenth-century examples may have long quillons, side rings, or broad guards protecting the hand. The Met’s Italian example from about 1550–75 has a side ring and recurved quillons. It measures 15 7/8 in. (40.3 cm) overall, with a blade of 11 in. (27.9 cm) and a weight of 15 oz. (425.2 g) (acc. 26.145.94).

Specialized forms include deeply notched blades commonly called sword-breakers. That name should not be treated as evidence that these daggers routinely snapped opposing blades.

Stiletto

The historical stiletto is a slender, fixed-blade thrusting dagger particularly associated with Italy. Many examples have a triangular or four-sided blade section with little cutting edge, a small crossguard, and a narrow grip. The Italian national catalogue records surviving examples, including a nineteenth-century stiletto of 7 11/16 in. (19.5 cm).

The name is also used for later folding knives with a slim profile. Their mechanism differs from the historical fixed-blade form. Contemporary stiletto daggers reinterpret the older outline in modern materials.

Misericorde

A misericorde is a medieval dagger traditionally associated with the coup de grâce, a final stroke given to a gravely wounded opponent. The name is connected with mercy, and descriptions commonly emphasize a narrow, pointed blade.

It is chiefly a term for an attributed purpose. Unlike rondel or quillon dagger, it does not establish one distinctive guard-and-pommel arrangement. A catalog may therefore apply both names to an object.

Ear Dagger

The ear dagger takes its name from two spreading plates at the top of the grip, forming an ear-like pommel. A tapering blade, exposed metal between the grip plates, and decorated fittings are characteristic features.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes the form as probably Moorish in origin and particularly popular in Spain and Italy during the early to mid-sixteenth century. Surviving examples include horn or ivory grip plates. The French example of about 1530 (acc. 39.159.1) measures 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm) overall and weighs 10 oz. (283.5 g); the Spanish one dated 1540 (acc. 32.75.99) measures 17 in. (43.2 cm) and weighs 1 lb. 1.4 oz. (493.3 g).

Poignard (Poniard)

Poignard is a French word for a dagger; poniard is its English form. Arms literature often applies the name to a slender, pointed dagger, including examples carried with swords.

The term is broader than a construction-based name such as rondel. It does not by itself specify a guard design, blade cross-section, or fencing role. An individual poignard needs those additional details for a more precise classification.

Anelace (Anlace)

Anelace, also spelled anlace, is a medieval term for a dagger or short, double-edged knife. It occurs in Anglo-Norman records from the thirteenth century and in descriptions of English civilian dress.

Later definitions commonly associate it with a broad blade tapering to a point. Because much of the evidence is textual, the name is less securely tied to a particular hilt design than terms such as bollock dagger or baselard.

Cinquedea

The cinquedea is an Italian Renaissance dagger or short sword with an exceptionally broad, double-edged blade tapering strongly toward the point. Its name refers to a blade approximately five fingers wide at the base.

The broad surface often carries multiple fullers and etched or gilded decoration, including classical figures. Surviving examples range from compact daggers to sword-sized weapons. The Met’s example from about 1500 illustrates the characteristic proportions and decorated blade. It measures 23 in. (58.4 cm) overall and weighs 2 lb. (907 g) (acc. 14.25.1266), while the V&A’s Venetian cinquedea of 1480–1500 (478-1901) has a blade of 21 15/16 in. (55.7 cm) and weighs 2 lb. 4.7 oz. (1.04 kg).

Scottish Dirk

The Scottish dirk, or biodag, is a long dagger associated with Highland dress. Its substantial, pointed blade is usually single-edged. A compact grip, often carved with interlace, generally lacks a sword-like crossguard.

Later dress examples may have decorated mounts and a sheath carrying a small knife and fork. The word dirk also appears in naval traditions, whose designs differ from the Highland form. Our dirk knives include modern interpretations. The Met’s Scottish dirk of 1822 (acc. 45.160.3a–d) has a blade of 13 in. (33 cm) and an overall length of 17 3/8 in. (44.1 cm), with a companion knife of 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm) and fork of 6 15/16 in. (17.6 cm).

Hunting Daggers and Hirschfänger

European hunting daggers formed part of specialized hunting equipment, including sidearms used to dispatch wounded game. Blade length, edge arrangement, guards, and handle materials vary.

The German term Hirschfänger, often translated as “deer catcher,” also covers hunting swords and other long hunting sidearms. Surviving hunting sets may include a shell guard, hunting-themed decoration, and a sheath with a small knife and fork. Modern deer-catcher daggers draw on this broader tradition. The Met’s German set with a blade dated 1656 (acc. 26.145.256a–d) is at the long end of that range: blade 20 3/8 in. (51.7 cm), overall 25 3/4 in. (65.4 cm), weight 1 lb. 9 oz. (708.7 g).

Puñal: A Spanish-Language Dagger Term

Puñal is a Spanish word for a dagger or short pointed weapon. Its application varies by place and period, including use for regional knives in parts of Latin America. The Museo Lázaro Galdiano catalogs a late sixteenth-century Spanish example of 13 3/16 in. (33.5 cm) as a daga (inv. 07432).

Unlike a name defined by a distinctive hilt, puñal does not establish a single physical pattern. Region, date, blade shape, and fittings are needed to describe a particular example accurately.

Middle Eastern and Caucasian Daggers

This group includes the curved jambiya and khanjar, the straight single-edged kard, and Caucasian forms such as the qama and bebut. The pesh-kabz belongs to a connected Persian and South Asian tradition. Regional names sometimes overlap, while the blade and complete sheath-and-belt arrangement help distinguish local forms.

Jambiya

The jambiya, also spelled janbiya, is a curved, double-edged dagger especially associated with Yemen. Typical Yemeni forms have a broad blade near the hilt, a central ridge, and a waisted grip. The fitted sheath and waist belt are important parts of the complete object.

Jambiyas form part of traditional dress and can express social identity. The Penn Museum’s eighteenth-century Arabian example has a pronounced blade ridge and a grip covered in silver filigree, illustrating the ornament found on some historical pieces.

Khanjar

The khanjar is a curved dagger whose Omani form combines a double-edged blade with a decorated hilt, a sharply bent scabbard, and a waist belt. The scabbard bends more markedly than the blade. Elsewhere, khanjar also names other regional dagger forms.

In Oman it is worn at weddings and other formal occasions and appears in the national emblem. UNESCO inscribed Al-Khanjar, craft skills and social practices in 2022, recognizing a living craft and dress tradition.

For more on these traditions, see our jambiya guide, NPR’s report on Yemeni dagger culture, and UNESCO’s account of Omani khanjar craftsmanship.

 

Video credit: The Wallace Collection

Kard

The kard is a straight, single-edged Persian knife with a thick back and a generally guardless hilt. Museum catalogs classify examples as either knives or daggers. Related forms occur in Ottoman and Mughal collections.

Hilts range from plain horn grips to richly ornamented court pieces. Some have crucible or wootz steel blades with gold decoration. The Met’s Iranian example dated 1805–6 illustrates the combination of a simple knife profile and elaborate finishing. It has a blade of 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm), an overall length of 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm), and a weight of 8.4 oz. (238.1 g) (acc. 91.1.903).

Pesh-Kabz

The pesh-kabz is a single-edged dagger associated with Iran and the Indian subcontinent. Its thick back gives the blade a characteristic T-shaped cross-section. Straight and recurved blades occur, narrowing toward an acute point.

Surviving examples include plain sidearms and elaborately decorated pieces. The Met’s Iranian pesh-kabz is described as ceremonial; a Mughal example has a jade hilt. The reinforced blade back is a more useful identifying feature than the choice of grip material. The Iranian piece (acc. 36.25.721) has a blade of 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm) and an overall length of 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm); the Mughal one (acc. 36.25.700a, b) has a blade of 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm) and measures 15 7/8 in. (40.3 cm) without its sheath.

Qama, Kindjal, and Khanjali

The qama belongs to the Caucasian tradition of straight, double-edged daggers, often discussed alongside the names kindjal and khanjali. An elongated blade, a guardless hilt, and a broad pommel are characteristic. Fullers and hilt proportions vary between regional examples.

Surviving eighteenth- and nineteenth-century pieces range from plain horn-mounted daggers to silver and niello-decorated examples. The Met’s nineteenth-century Caucasian kindjal documents the form’s place in Caucasian dress and ceremonial life. Sheathed it measures 23 1/8 in. (58.7 cm) and weighs 1 lb. 4.8 oz. (589.7 g) (acc. 81.1.599a, b); the museum attributes it to the Caucasus, possibly northern Dagestan, about 1840–50.

Bebut

The bebut is a curved dagger associated with the Caucasus. Its blade distinguishes it from the straight qama or kama. Traditional examples vary, while the Russian Model 1907 became a standardized military pattern with a curved blade, longitudinal fullers, and riveted grip scales.

Museum documentation of the Model 1907 records its adoption by the Russian army and subsequent issue to several troop categories, including machine-gun and artillery personnel.

Asian Daggers

Asian dagger traditions include the H-hilted katar of India, the loop-hilted bichuwa, the keris of Indonesia and neighboring regions, and the Japanese tantō. Some names describe a complete regional form; others identify a blade variant or mounting within a wider tradition.

Katar Dagger

The katar is an Indian push dagger identified by its H-shaped hilt. Two side bars flank the hand, while transverse bars form the grip behind the blade. Broad, triangular blades are common, but length, profile, and reinforcement near the point vary.

The Met’s sixteenth-century Vijayanagara example documents the form in South India. Its side-bar construction distinguishes it from the compact T-handled push daggers familiar in later Western collections. That katar measures 19 3/4 in. (50.2 cm) overall and weighs 1 lb. 2.3 oz. (518.8 g).

Kris (Keris)

The kris, also spelled keris, is a Southeast Asian dagger especially associated with Indonesia. An asymmetric blade base, distinctive hilt, and fitted scabbard are characteristic. Blades may be straight or wavy. Many display pamor, a surface pattern created by layered metals and revealed by surface treatment.

A keris can serve as an heirloom, dress accessory, and spiritually significant object as well as a weapon. UNESCO’s account of the Indonesian kris tradition describes these interconnected roles.

Tantō

The tantō is a Japanese dagger or short blade, traditionally with a cutting-edge length under about 12 inches (30 cm). Most examples are single-edged. Several cross-sections occur, including hira-zukuri, which lacks the longitudinal ridge found on many Japanese swords.

Blade form and mounting are separate classifications: aikuchi describes guardless fittings. The angular “American tanto” point of modern knives does not define the historical Japanese category. Kaiken and yoroi-dōshi are related forms within this tradition. The distinction matters when reading measurements: the Met’s eighteenth-century blade (acc. 91.2.39) is 14 in. (35.5 cm) long overall but has a cutting edge of only 10 in. (25.4 cm).

Video credit: History of Katana

Kaiken (Kwaiken)

A kaiken, also written kwaiken, is a small Japanese dagger within the broader tantō tradition. Compact, guardless mountings are characteristic; the name does not establish a separate blade cross-section.

The Met’s late-nineteenth-century example is cataloged with its mountings. When identifying a kaiken, the relationship between the short blade, compact grip, and close-fitting sheath is more useful than the modern use of the name for any slim knife. That blade measures 8 in. (20.3 cm) (acc. 36.25.1718a–c).

Yoroi-dōshi

A yoroi-dōshi is a thick-bodied form of Japanese tantō associated with armored combat. Its name is commonly translated as “armor piercer.” The substantial blade cross-section is its clearest distinguishing feature.

The British Museum’s example dated 1562 is described as a short, thick hira-zukuri dagger. Yoroi-dōshi belong within the tantō family; the historical name alone should not be read as a claim about penetrating every kind of armor. The blade measures 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm) without its tang (1958,0730.58.a).

Bichuwa

The bichuwa, also spelled bichwa, is an Indian dagger identified by a recurved blade and a loop-shaped hilt. The blade is commonly double-edged. The loop encloses the hand and gives the dagger a distinctive silhouette.

Blade curvature, hilt decoration, and proportions vary. The Met’s collection includes a seventeenth-century example from Thanjavur, showing the combination of a narrow recurved blade and ornamental metal hilt. It has a blade of 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm), an overall height of 10 5/8 in. (27 cm), and a weight of 8.1 oz. (229.6 g) (acc. 36.25.1039).

Khanjarli

The khanjarli is an Indian dagger recognizable by its recurved blade and unusually broad, crescent-shaped pommel. Historical examples often have ivory hilt plates and may include a knuckle guard.

The Met’s South Indian example is dated to the seventeenth–eighteenth century. The wide pommel helps distinguish a khanjarli from other curved Indian daggers. Despite the similar names, it is a different form from the Omani khanjar and the Caucasian khanjali. It has a blade of 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm), an overall height of 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm), and a pommel 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm) wide (acc. 36.25.999).

Chilanum

The chilanum is an Indian dagger distinguished especially by its hilt: a narrow, often baluster-shaped grip between a spreading pommel and guard. These ends may form opposed crescents, and some guards curve upward around the hand.

The Met’s curatorial description associates this hilt’s probable origin with the Deccan and identifies it in a miniature dated about 1555. Materials and construction vary; both metal and carved stone hilts are documented, including examples assembled from several parts. The Met’s late seventeenth-century dagger with a nephrite hilt (acc. 36.25.666a, b) measures 17 in. (43.2 cm) overall.

Pichangatti

The pichangatti is a short sidearm from Kodagu, or Coorg, in southern India. Its broad, usually single-edged blade is paired with a shaped grip and a fitted sheath, often with decorated metal mounts.

Museum terminology overlaps: the Met catalogs one example as a knife and another as a dagger. The regional name is therefore more specific than either general classification. The complete blade, hilt, and sheath provide the useful identifying features. Their dimensions are almost the same: the knife (acc. 36.25.941a, b) has a blade of 7 in. (17.8 cm), the dagger (acc. 31.58a, b) a blade of 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm).

Badik

The badik is a short knife or dagger associated particularly with the Bugis, Makassar, and Mandar communities of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Common features include an asymmetric, usually single-edged blade and a sharply angled grip. Blade width, curvature, and decoration vary between regional forms.

Some blades display pamor, a pattern produced by layered metals. The badik has a documented place in traditional dress and identity alongside its history as a personal weapon.

Balarao

The balarao, or winged dagger, is a Philippine form with a broad, double-edged blade and a forked grip. Two hornlike projections and an extended tang give the hilt its distinctive outline.

A Mandaya dagger in Harvard’s Peabody Museum provides a documented example from southeastern Mindanao. The flaring grip ends help distinguish the balarao from Philippine daggers with curved, solid handles, such as many gunong.

Haladie

The haladie is a double-ended dagger with blades extending from opposite ends of a central grip. Indian examples commonly have curved blades; some add a third point to the hand guard. The horn-based madu is a related parrying weapon with a different construction.

The name also occurs in museum inventories of weapons collected at Omdurman, Sudan. Regional attribution therefore requires more evidence than the name alone.

Jamdhar Katari

The jamdhar katari is a dagger associated with the Hindu Kush. It has a narrow grip between broad metal guard and pommel projections, often producing a strongly waisted hilt.

The Met’s steel example is dated broadly to the seventeenth–nineteenth centuries; the Horniman Museum’s specimen has a grip formed by three baluster-like swellings. Despite the similar name, its longitudinal handle differs from the transverse grip of the katar. The Met’s piece measures 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm) overall, with a hilt 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm) wide, and weighs 11.6 oz. (328.9 g) (acc. 36.25.820).

Punyal and Gunong

Punyal is a Philippine term for a dagger and is also used for the gunong in some regional contexts. A gunong is a compact knife or dagger especially associated with the southern Philippines. Straight and wavy blades occur, commonly paired with a curved grip and fitted sheath.

Names and blade profiles vary between local traditions. A gunong should also be distinguished from the larger kalis swords found in southern Philippine arms collections.

Ritual Daggers and Religious Blades

The following terms identify objects through religious practice. They encompass the Himalayan phurba, the Sikh kirpan, and the athame of modern witchcraft traditions. Their materials, forms, and spiritual meanings differ, so each needs to be understood within its own tradition.

Phurba (Kīla): Ritual Dagger

The phurba, or kīla, is a ritual implement associated with Himalayan religious traditions, especially Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. Its usual form combines a three-sided, pointed lower section with a sculptural handle incorporating deity faces or vajra imagery.

Examples exist in metal and wood, including the Met’s carved ebony phurba. Ritual use concerns spiritual obstacles and harmful forces. Its pointed form has a symbolic function and should not be interpreted simply as a fighting dagger. That phurba, dated to the late fourteenth–early fifteenth century, stands 16 3/4 in. (42.5 cm) high (acc. 2019.122a, b).

Kirpan

The kirpan is one of the five articles of faith maintained by initiated Sikhs. It represents a commitment to justice and the protection of others, as explained by the World Sikh Organization.

Kirpans vary in size and form. Many have a curved blade carried in a sheath with a strap called a gatra. The term identifies a religious article and its significance; it does not specify one standard dagger profile.

Athame

An athame is a ritual knife used in Wicca and other modern witchcraft traditions. Its identity rests on ritual use, while materials and designs vary.

The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic preserves an athame, with a steel blade and decorated hilt. The museum also records wooden athames, so a sharpened metal blade cannot be treated as a universal feature. The steel example measures 11 7/16 in. (29 cm) and the cherry-wood one 11 1/4 in. (28,5 cm), so the two differ in material rather than in size. These are documented modern ritual objects.

African Daggers and Related Blades

The billao, koummya, and jile represent distinct Somali, Moroccan, and Horn of Africa traditions. Other African weapons span different categories: flyssa occur in knife and sword sizes, seme are commonly classified as short swords, and mambele includes sickle knives and branching throwing blades. Those forms appear in the related-weapons section.

Billao

The billao, also spelled billaawe, is a Somali dagger or short sword. Its broad blade is generally double-edged and asymmetrically leaf-shaped. A horn grip and a pommel with a central projection and two smaller lateral points are familiar features; single-pommel forms also survive.

Traditional examples have leather sheaths, while metal fittings and proportions vary. The name covers regional sidearms as well as related patterns made for colonial forces.

Koummya

The koummya is a Moroccan curved dagger recognizable by its flared, often peacock-tail-shaped pommel and curved scabbard with two suspension attachments. The blade’s curvature and extent of sharpening vary.

Wood or horn grips and metal-covered scabbards occur in many combinations. Silverwork and other decoration may emphasize the side visible when worn. The complete dagger and scabbard belong to Moroccan dress and metalworking traditions, with regional variation in fittings and ornament.

Jile (Gile)

The jile, or gile, is a curved dagger associated with Afar communities and neighboring peoples in the Horn of Africa. Examples have an asymmetrical, double-edged blade, often with a raised central ridge, and a leather sheath.

Grip and pommel designs vary, including wooden or horn grips and conical metal pommels. The British Museum records a curved dagger tentatively attributed to Afar makers. The wider tradition includes substantial blades approaching short-sword size. That dagger measures 15 3/4 in. (40 cm), with a sheath of 11 5/8 in. (29.5 cm) (Af1979,01.217.a-b).

Ancient Daggers

Ancient daggers include stone blades, early metal forms, and named types associated with particular cultures. Flint, Bronze Age, and Iron Age are material or chronological groupings; acinaces, pugio, and sica are more specific historical names. For identification and provenance, see our guide to collecting antique daggers.

Flint Daggers

Flint daggers are finely flaked stone blades particularly associated with Late Neolithic Scandinavia. Some have a handle worked from the same piece of flint as the blade, including distinctive fishtail-ended forms. Their manufacture required considerable skill in controlling the flaking process.

The National Museum of Ireland’s account discusses their possible social and display roles and the debated relationship between flint and contemporary metal daggers. These interpretations do not establish the same use for every surviving example.

Bronze Age Daggers

Bronze Age daggers include triangular, leaf-shaped, and narrow-bladed regional forms. Their cast copper-alloy blades may have rivet holes for attaching a separate grip, an integral metal hilt, or a pronounced midrib.

Blade shape and hilt attachment help distinguish regional groups, while the findspot and archaeological context support dating. The Hunt Museum’s Bronze Age dagger illustrates why surviving metalwork must be distinguished from later restorations: its visible wooden handle is a modern replacement.

Iron Age Daggers

Iron Age daggers form a chronological group encompassing different regional blade and hilt designs. Iron blades could be fitted with organic grips or copper-alloy hilts. Some European examples have anthropoid hilts whose guard and pommel suggest a human figure.

Longer examples overlap with short swords, including the British Museum’s anthropoid-hilted specimen. Blade proportions, hilt construction, and archaeological context provide a more precise identification than the material or period alone. That La Tène piece, cataloged as a sword, has a blade of 13 9/16 in. (34.5 cm), a total length of 18 1/8 in. (46 cm), and a weight of 12.6 oz. (357 g) (ML.1669).

Acinaces (Akinakes)

The acinaces, also spelled akinakes, belongs to a family of daggers and short swords associated with Scythian and Iranian cultures in the first millennium BCE. Typical features include a straight, double-edged blade, a short guard, and a distinct pommel.

A National Museum of History of Moldova study distinguishes regional and chronological groups within this family. Hilt shape, blade proportions, and scabbard suspension help identify individual examples.

Pugio

The pugio is a Roman military dagger especially familiar from the early imperial period. Many examples have a broad, double-edged blade with a central ridge or grooves, a short guard, and an expanded pommel.

Blade profiles vary from waisted or leaf-shaped to nearly parallel-sided, as in London Museum’s Roman dagger. Surviving weapons and decorated scabbards document changes in construction and ornament. The pugio was a separate sidearm from the longer gladius sword. The London dagger measures 16 5/16 in. (41.5 cm) overall and 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm) across (object 18154).

Sica

The sica is a curved dagger associated with Thracian and Dacian contexts in southeastern Europe. Its inward-curving cutting edge distinguishes it from straight ancient daggers.

The National History Museum of Romania’s example from Orodel, dated to the first century BCE, has a raised midrib and blade decoration. It was found in a cremation burial, supplying archaeological context as well as a recognizable blade form. Its curved profile should be distinguished from the longer falx.

Push Daggers and American Dagger Forms

A push dagger is defined by its grip arrangement, while Arkansas toothpick is a name rooted in American knife history. These categories describe different aspects of a weapon: construction in the first case, historical terminology in the second.

Push Dagger

A push dagger has a transverse, often T-shaped grip behind a short blade. In the familiar modern form, a narrow stem connects the blade to the palm grip. It differs from the Indian katar’s longer side bars, although both belong to the broad push-dagger family.

Western examples include compact civilian forms and First World War trench daggers. Contemporary designs also include decorative interpretations such as this Scorpion push dagger.

Arkansas Toothpick

In modern knife terminology, an Arkansas toothpick is a large, straight, double-edged knife tapering to a central point. It differs from the familiar clip-point Bowie knife.

Nineteenth-century usage was less precise. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas records “Arkansas toothpick,” “Arkansas knife,” and “Bowie knife” as overlapping names. A period description therefore needs supporting details about the blade and hilt before it can be matched to the modern pattern.

Modern Military Daggers

Military dagger patterns are usually identified by a model name, maker, and service history. The Fairbairn–Sykes, Raider stiletto, V-42, and Mark I have distinct blade and hilt designs. Dress daggers served as uniform sidearms, while some commercially produced fighting daggers became associated with military use through private purchase.

Fairbairn–Sykes Fighting Knife

The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife is a British military dagger developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes. Closely associated with the Commandos during the Second World War, it combines a narrow, double-edged blade, a small crossguard, and a slim metal grip.

Wartime patterns differ in guard shape, grip texture, and manufacture. The first pattern is documented in 1941; later versions changed the guard and grip. Surviving markings and recorded service histories help distinguish originals from subsequent reproductions.

Video credit: Scholagladiatoria

Applegate–Fairbairn Fighting Knife

The Applegate–Fairbairn is a modern double-edged fighting dagger developed from Rex Applegate’s work with William E. Fairbairn. A broader, centrally pointed blade and a shaped grip distinguish it from the slender Fairbairn–Sykes pattern. A crossguard separates the handle from the cutting edges.

Production versions commonly use synthetic grips. Details such as steel, handle construction, and finish depend on the manufacturer and model; these specifications should be attached to an individual version rather than applied to the entire design family.

USMC Raider Stiletto

The USMC Raider stiletto was a Second World War dagger made by Camillus and modeled on the Fairbairn–Sykes. Its narrow, double-edged blade and cast zinc-alloy grip distinguish it from broader Marine fighting knives.

The Marine Corps historical account distinguishes the stiletto from the Raiders’ larger Bowie-style knives and records its issue to all four Raider battalions. It was also used by the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

V-42 Stiletto

The V-42 stiletto was developed in 1942 for the joint U.S.–Canadian First Special Service Force and produced by W. R. Case & Sons. Its defining features include a narrow, double-edged blade, a grooved thumb-rest area near the blade’s base, a stacked-leather grip, and a pointed pommel.

The wartime pattern used a long leather scabbard and carried the CASE maker’s mark. Later commemorative reproductions retain the design’s association with the First Special Service Force.

Gerber Mark II

The Gerber Mark II is an American fighting dagger introduced in 1966 and closely associated with the Vietnam War. Its double-edged, waisted blade and cast-aluminum handle are characteristic. It was a commercial knife carried by servicemen, rather than a standard U.S. issue pattern.

The documented development history connects the design to Clarence “Bud” Holzmann. Successive versions differ in blade steel, finishes, serrations, and handle treatments, making production details useful for dating an individual knife.

Mark I Trench Knife (U.S. Model 1918)

The U.S. Model 1918 Mark I trench knife combines a straight, double-edged blade with a cast-metal knuckle grip and pointed pommel. Its hilt has individual finger openings. The blade follows the French Modèle 1916 trench dagger, as described by Royal Armouries.

It differs from the earlier U.S. M1917 and M1918 trench knives, which had triangular-section blades. The Mark I design dates to 1918, and existing stocks also saw service during the Second World War.

German Dress Daggers, 1930s–1940s

German dress daggers of the Nazi period were uniform sidearms whose fittings and emblems identified a service or organization. Grip, guard, pommel, scabbard, and markings must be considered together when distinguishing patterns.

The Smithsonian’s Luftwaffe dress dagger and the Australian War Memorial’s second-model example document different designs. The latter pattern was adopted in 1937. Their uniform and ceremonial purpose separates this group from field fighting daggers.

Related Knives, Swords, and Other Weapons

Several names commonly included in dagger lists describe other blade categories, folding mechanisms, or weapons without cutting edges. The entries below explain those distinctions while retaining related regional forms. For longer blades, see our guide to types of swords.

Forms covered in this section: sgian-dubh, seax, kopis, parazonium, balisong, hachiwari, kalis, kujang, kukri, maduvu, Malappuram kathi, piha kaetta, sai, flyssa, mambele, seme, BC-41, Argentine parachutist knife, facón, corvo, M3 fighting knife, M4 bayonet, M7 bayonet, SOG knife, “Yank” Levy knife.

The karambit is another related knife, identified by its curved blade and characteristic handle ring.

Sgian-dubh: A Related Highland Knife

The sgian-dubh is a small, usually single-edged Scottish knife worn in the top of the kilt hose. Its name is commonly translated as “black knife.” Highland museum documentation places it within nineteenth-century formal dress. It is distinct from the larger dirk carried at the belt.

Seax: An Early Medieval Single-Edged Knife

The seax is an early medieval, single-edged knife of Anglo-Saxon and other northern European traditions. Long and short forms occur, with curved or angular “broken-back” profiles. The British Museum’s Seax of Beagnoth carries a runic inscription. See also our guide to Norse knives. It is at the long end of the range: blade 21 11/16 in. (55.1 cm), overall 28 3/8 in. (72.1 cm), weight 2 lb. 2.7 oz. (985 g) (1857,0623.1).

Kopis: A Related Sword Form

The kopis is principally a Greek sword with a single cutting edge, forward curve, and a blade that widens toward the tip. The Met’s Classical Greek machaira, also called a kopis, is cataloged as a sword. These proportions and the pronounced cutting profile distinguish it from the short, pointed sidearms at the center of this guide. That machaira measures 22 1/4 in. (56.5 cm) and weighs 1.5 lb. (0.7 kg) (acc. 2001.346).

Parazonium: A Roman Ceremonial Sidearm

The parazonium is a Roman short sidearm chiefly known from art and coinage, where it accompanies gods and figures of military authority. British Museum coin records identify it among imperial attributes. Usually described as a short sword or long dagger, it is less securely defined by surviving weapons than the pugio.

Video credit: Skallagrim

Balisong

A balisong, or butterfly knife, has two handle halves that pivot around the blade tang and enclose the blade when closed. Associated with the Philippines, it is classified by this folding mechanism. A balisong may carry a dagger-shaped blade, but the mechanism does not determine blade profile or edge count.

Hachiwari

The hachiwari, also called kabutowari, is a Japanese sidearm with a stout, often curved body and a hook near the grip. Its name means “helmet splitter,” although many examples resemble a pointed truncheon. The surviving object’s form is more informative than a literal reading of that name.

Kalis

The kalis is associated especially with the southern Philippines. Large examples are swords: the Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs one as a kalis or sundang. Blades may be straight, wavy, or combine both profiles. That sword measures 27 5/8 in. (70.2 cm) overall, with a blade of 22 3/8 in. (56.9 cm) (acc. 1916.715). The smaller gunong is a separate regional knife or dagger form.

Kujang

The kujang is a Sundanese blade and cultural emblem of West Java. Its asymmetric outline, hooked contours, and often perforated blade distinguish it from a conventional dagger. Named local forms carry symbolic meanings, and examples are preserved as heirlooms.

Kukri

The kukri, or khukuri, is a Nepalese knife with a single edge and a broad, forward-curving blade. Closely associated with Gurkha soldiers, it also serves as a working tool. Its substantial cutting blade places it among fighting and utility knives.

Maduvu (Madu)

The maduvu, or madu, is an Indian parrying weapon commonly made from two opposed animal horns joined around a central handhold. Steel tips and a small hand-protecting shield occur on museum examples. Its paired horns distinguish it from the steel-bladed haladie. The Met’s brass, horn and steel madu spans 30 in. (76.2 cm) and weighs 30.2 oz. (857 g) (acc. 36.25.2904).

Malappuram Kathi

The Malappuram kathi, or kaddara, is a regional knife or dagger from Kerala, India. INTACH’s craft documentation records its former use by farmers and agricultural laborers and the decline of traditional smithies. It belongs to local working-knife history as well as Kerala’s metalworking heritage.

Piha Kaetta

The piha kaetta is a Sri Lankan knife with a short, usually single-edged blade, a substantial base, and a shaped grip. Decorated examples have carved handles and elaborate metal fittings. The Met catalogs the form as a knife; the Louvre catalogs an eighteenth-century example as a betel knife, 12 5/8 in. (32 cm) long (R 178). The Met’s eighteenth–nineteenth-century piece stands 9 in. (22.9 cm) without its sheath and weighs 3.6 oz. (102.1 g) (acc. 36.25.958a, b).

Sai

The sai is an Okinawan weapon with a long central shaft and two shorter side prongs. It belongs to kobudō traditions. Lacking the continuous cutting edges of a dagger, it is better described as a pronged metal truncheon. Its forked form also differs from the single-hooked Japanese jitte.

Flyssa: Knife and Sword Forms

The flyssa is a Kabyle weapon from Algeria made in both knife and sword sizes. Its single-edged blade has a long tapering point; the guardless hilt often has brass covering and geometric decoration. The Met distinguishes knife and sword examples. The difference is substantial: the knife (acc. 36.25.783a, b) has a blade of 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm), the sword (acc. 36.25.1363a, b) a blade of 34 in. (86.4 cm).

Mambele: Sickle Knives and Throwing Blades

Mambele appears in descriptions of Central African sickle knives and branching throwing blades. The Allen Memorial Art Museum’s Mangbetu sickle knife represents one form. The Mambele collection illustrates further variety. The Oberlin sickle knife measures 16 in. (40.6 cm) at its greatest dimension (acc. 2002.18). A sickle knife and a multi-bladed throwing weapon require separate identification despite the shared name.

Video credit: Skallagrim

Seme (Simi): A Related Short Sword

The seme, also spelled simi or sime, is an East African sidearm associated with Maasai and Kikuyu communities. Its broad blade, simple grip, and leather-covered scabbard are characteristic. The British Museum classifies an example as a sword. Shorter specimens overlap with large knives. The example in question measures 36 13/16 in. (93.5 cm) in its sheath (Af1908,-.275.a).

BC-41 Knuckle Knife

The BC-41 combines a fixed blade with a finger-hole knuckle grip. Its origins remain uncertain. In evidence submitted to the UK Parliament in 2018, paragraph 16, specialist Ronald Flook described its history and manufacturer as largely unknown. Claims of official British commando issue need further documentation.

Argentine Parachutist Knife

Argentine parachutist knives include the Yarará Paracaidista, recognizable by its enclosed knuckle guard. Royal Armouries discusses the Yarará as a later continuation of the knuckle-knife tradition. The service name refers to a family of issued knives; blade and hilt details should be checked against the particular model.

Facón: A Gaucho Knife

The facón is a large, usually single-edged knife associated with gauchos in Argentina, Uruguay, and neighboring regions. It served as a working knife and sidearm. Museum examples document decorated silver fittings and leather sheaths. Regional vocabulary also includes puñal and daga.

Corvo: A Chilean Curved Knife

The corvo is a Chilean knife identified by a strongly hooked blade with its main cutting edge inside the curve. Military patterns differ in handle and fittings. Its ceremonial presentation to recruits is documented by the Chilean Army.

M3 Fighting Knife

The M3 is a U.S. Second World War fighting knife with one full cutting edge, a shorter sharpened back edge, a stacked-leather grip, and a small guard with one bent end. Its blade pattern was adapted for the M4 bayonet. The shorter back edge distinguishes it from a fully double-edged dagger.

M4 Bayonet

The M4 is a knife bayonet for the M1 carbine, using the M3 blade pattern. A muzzle ring and locking mechanism distinguish it from a standalone knife. The National Army Museum holds an American M4 of 1951 used by Republic of Korea troops.

M7 Bayonet

The M7 is a U.S. knife bayonet for the M16 rifle. Its spear-point blade has a full main edge and a shorter back edge. Molded grip panels, a muzzle ring, and a locking mechanism identify the service pattern. The Australian War Memorial preserves an example with an M8A1 scabbard.

SOG Bowie-Pattern Fighting Knife

The original SOG knife was a clip-point fighting knife associated with MACV-SOG during the Vietnam War. It belongs to the Bowie-pattern tradition. Later SOG-branded knives include many different designs, so the brand name alone does not establish historical military issue or one blade geometry.

“Yank” Levy Fighting Knife: An Uncertain Attribution

Bert “Yank” Levy was a wartime instructor and author. A knife attributed to him requires a documented design or surviving example before it can be identified as a standard pattern. The attribution is discussed in the video below.

Video credit: Scholagladiatoria

How to Identify a Dagger

Identify a dagger by examining the blade, hilt, and documented context together. Record the blade’s profile, cross-section, number of cutting edges, and length, then compare the guard, grip, and pommel with known examples.

A bevel or swedge on the back of a blade is not necessarily sharpened. Decoration and material can help describe an object, but neither establishes a universal boundary between dagger, knife, and short sword. Maker’s marks, inscriptions, sheath construction, and reliable provenance may narrow an attribution beyond the general type.

Size and Proportion

“Long” and “short” describe proportions across several dagger families. Dirk, baselard, and qama examples can have substantial blades, while kaiken, push daggers, and gunong include compact forms. Size varies within these names, and some traditions overlap with short swords.

Compare blade length with the hilt and complete weapon. A measurement from a museum record describes that particular object; it should not be converted into a fixed size range for the entire type.

Long dagger examples

Compact knife and dagger examples

Modern Dagger Designs and Materials

Modern custom knives may reproduce a documented historical dagger or combine features from several traditions. Profile, edge arrangement, hilt, and construction show how closely a piece follows its reference. Decorative medieval motifs alone do not establish a historical type.

Pattern-welded steel and mosaic Damascus describe blade construction and patterning; engraving describes surface decoration. Our Damascus daggers and dirk designs show contemporary applications. Our knife-maker guide provides further maker context.

A mosaic Damascus dagger combines a chosen blade pattern with a particular hilt and profile. A modern parrying-dagger interpretation can likewise be compared with the historical guard and blade arrangements described above.

The following video shows examples of contemporary dagger design and decoration.

Video by: Noblie Custom Knives

Owning a Custom Dagger Today

Historical dagger forms continue to influence contemporary work. Our custom dagger collection includes Damascus blades, engraved presentation pieces, stilettos, kindjals, parrying daggers, and dirks. Individual listings describe the materials, dimensions, fittings, and decoration of each piece.

For a commissioned dagger, agree on the reference design, blade and hilt materials, sheath, and any inscription before work begins. This makes it clear which features follow a historical model and which are personal additions.

→ Explore Noblie’s custom daggers in stock

Explore more blade forms in our knife blog.

Dagger Types: Frequently Asked Questions

Are All Daggers Double-Edged?

No. Two cutting edges are common, but historical categories also include single-edged bollock daggers, dirks, kards, and tantō. The complete form and historical terminology matter as much as edge count.

What Is the Difference Between a Dirk and a Stiletto?

A Scottish dirk generally has a substantial, tapering, single-edged blade and a Highland hilt. A historical Italian stiletto has a much narrower pointed blade, often with a triangular or four-sided cross-section and little cutting edge.

Which Daggers Have Curved Blades?

Examples include the jambiya, Omani khanjar, bichuwa, khanjarli, bebut, and koummya. Their curves, edges, and fittings differ. A wavy kris has an undulating profile; many kris blades are straight.

How Should a Historical Dagger Be Preserved?

Handle it carefully, protect it from damp conditions, and avoid abrupt environmental changes. Consult a conservator before polishing, sharpening, dismantling, or coating an antique. For modern pieces, follow the maker’s material-specific instructions. Products such as Renaissance Wax are surface treatments, not universal solutions for every blade and hilt material.

Does a Dagger Type Determine Sharpness?

No. Edge sharpness depends on the individual blade’s geometry, sharpening, material, and condition. Point shape is a separate characteristic: a narrow stiletto may have little useful cutting edge. See our discussion of knife sharpness for that separate question.

Can I Gift a Custom Dagger in the US?

Check the rules where the recipient lives before arranging a gift, including restrictions on the particular design, transfer, and delivery. Permission to own a piece does not necessarily include permission to carry it. For an engraved gift, confirm the inscription and delivery schedule with the maker.

Are Historical and Legal Definitions the Same?

No. Historical terminology and legal definitions serve different purposes. California’s Penal Code § 16470, for example, defines “dirk” and “dagger” by function; § 21310 addresses concealed carry. Consult current official sources for a specific jurisdiction. Our knife laws by state and the Texas DPS statutory compilation provide further starting points.

Sources and Further Reading

Direct links in the entries lead to museum records, heritage documentation, and specialist research. The selected references below provide further examples. Dates, measurements, and materials in an object record apply to that artifact; broader conclusions require comparison with other evidence.

• London Museum: Dagger, rondel dagger
• The Met: Ballock Knife
• The Met: Basilard
• The Met: Parrying Dagger, 1550–75
• The Met: Cinquedea, c. 1500
• Penn Museum: Dagger, Jambiya 42-30-265A
• UNESCO: Al-Khanjar, craft skills and social practices
• The Met: Dagger (Katar), Vijayanagara, 16th century
• UNESCO: Indonesian Kris
• The Met: Dagger (Jamdhar Katari)
• The Met: Dagger (Tantō)
• British Museum: Wooden dagger of pugio form
• The Met: Dagger (Pesh-kabz) with Sheath, Mughal
• The Met: Dagger (Kindjal) with Sheath, Caucasus
• National Army Museum: First-pattern Fairbairn–Sykes, 1941
• Montana Military Museum: Story of the V-42
• Royal Armouries: Arms of the First World War

Further research: Ned L. Fischer, Iron Men: Roman Masculinity and the Roman Military Dagger (Cornell University, 2017); Aurel Rustoiu, Thracian Sica and Dacian Falx: The History of a “National” Weapon (2007). For a compact cinquedea, compare the Met’s dagger-sized example.

Author: Aleks Nemtcev | Knifemaker with 10+ Years of Experience | Connect with me on LinkedIn | Follow me on Reddit