A sailor must carry a knife for safety and convenience. Most sailors carry special pocket knives, but sometimes they also need a dagger, which can be used in a variety of ways. Damascus was designed with shipping in mind and is still in use today.
A Little Research on the History of Damascus
Pirates were the first to use the dagger as a navigation weapon. It is logical that they preferred long, thin and sharp daggers to daggers and repairers. In naval combat situations, they are much more effective than any other weapon. Gradually, the length of the dagger changed and reached about 80 cm by the end of the sixteenth century. Shortly afterward, the blades became popular with the general population, as well as among ground soldiers and hunters.
In the United States, during the Tsar’s time, the dagger became an integral part of naval equipment. And gradually it gained a symbolic meaning, becoming a kind of weapon award.
The First Sea Dagger
The first dagger was a cross between a sword and a dagger. They were made in England. Almost immediately, the French also began to use them, modernizing them for their own convenience. In the future, they were divided into English and French versions. They differed in their form:
- English: The blade was mostly like a sword, its feature was to sharpen only one side.
- French – Apparently, it was close to the dagger.
It is possible to distinguish the common features of the most common daggers of the time. The blade was sharp on both sides. The blade itself was quite narrow with a length of up to 36 cm. The stiffness was provided by a special ramp along the entire length. The hand was protected by a large guard. All these features made it possible to use the dagger effectively in a small space.
Repairers And Swords Turned Into Daggers
The British first noticed the superiority of short blades. And they deliberately started shortening their swords and repairers. The small pitcher’s fashion quickly led to ground warfare. At the beginning of the XVII century, the first products had such parameters:
- Blade length – 80 cm;
- Double-sided acceleration
- A curved wedge.
The Appearance Of The Modern Dagger Prototype.
In the middle of the 17th century, when there was fighting in nearby circles, cutout repair swords were used. In street fights, the hardcore has proved itself. And only at the end of the century did sailors become interested in shovels. The Damascus knives are symbolically sharp daggers.
Dagger production began in many countries in the 19th century. Its purpose was already specific: for naval officers. There are first thoughts about the essential attribute of the form. The product blades did not exceed 410 mm, the handle was covered with leather.
In different countries, the use of materials for making daggers varies. Handle guards and pommels were made in the form of predators and birds. There were also differences in color solutions. It was only in the 20th century that daggers became official features of military uniforms in many countries. And they started to look tougher.
For a long time, there was no standard for making daggers for officers. The length, shape of the handle, and protection were very different. From the 17th century onwards, common features began to appear in weapons workshops: the presence of a transverse shape and, of course, a protector.
Already approaching the XIX century, specific dimensions appeared, the length of the blade was at least 300 mm, and the handle was made of ivory. In 1913, he decided to release the elephants. The handles were made of wood or metal and covered with genuine leather.
Over time, the dagger loses its relevance. But it was not abandoned at all, and the dagger became a beautiful attribute of the officers. The presence of the product on a person makes it clear that an important person is in front of you.
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