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Post by lupinferris on Dec 13, 2016 22:51:46 GMT
Hello all, I have a question concerning a design of the above dagger. It has a cross guard that was swept backwards towards the person holding it, as you can see. I'm curious to know if anyone has seen a similar design in a historical context or if anyone can defend the practicality of such a design. To me it simply appears someone favored form over function, as it does look elegant, but I just see this guard deflecting the opponents blade into the weilder's arm and snagging on clothing as it is drawn. If anyone has any other thoughts I'd be interested in hearing them
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Post by legacyofthesword on Dec 13, 2016 23:46:31 GMT
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Dec 14, 2016 0:18:45 GMT
Apart from it being a common style of jian guard, it's also normal for kampilan guards, some south Indian guards, some Indonesian guards. If you consider the wide base of a kris/keris blade a guard, it's also usual for them. Not usually as extreme as the dagger you show, though.
It's possibly functional on the dagger. Thrust, and if you hit your opponent's weapon or shield/buckler edge, it can slide past. If it had straight quillons, or quillons curved towards the blade, it would just stop as soon as it hit the weapon/shield. It also protects the base of the thumb better during a thrust.
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LeMal
Member
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Post by LeMal on Dec 14, 2016 0:27:04 GMT
A number of Byzantine medieval swords also have swept-back guards. Clearly visible on iconographic art.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2016 1:37:41 GMT
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