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Dagger
Unique ID: LON-988294
Object type certainty: Certain
A Medieval incomplete cast copper-alloy quillon dagger guard dating c. 1200 - c. 1400. This guard has a central sub-rectangular body, with large rectangular hole through which the dagger tang would pass, with one surviving arm, the other is broken and missing, and a small rectangular projection set at right angles to the arms. The remaining arm has a rounded cross-section which tapers in the middle before slightly expanding at the flat terminal. It is decorated with a double incised line forming a border just before the terminal and a cross on the end of the terminal. The body of the guard is decorated with incised cross-hatching set within a double band of incised lines. The copper alloy has a mid green patina which also covers the surface of the broken arm.
This dagger guard is quite similar to others recorded from Alfriston Parish, East Sussex, Brighstone Parish, Isle of Wight and Wem Rural Parish, Shropshire. See Portable Antiquities Scheme finds: SUSS-9322F7, IOW-585324 and HESH-1C7790. Published examples of quillon-daggers are illustrated in Ward Perkins (1940:39-42, plates VI-VII). Ward Perkins states that these artefacts are military daggers with the earliest examples surviving from the 13th century. There are "frequent representations in the Maciejowski Bible, c. 1250, passim, depicting a short, sword-shaped weapon, with quillons drooping slightly toward the point, and a lobed or circular pommel". This type of military dagger was common until the close of the fourteenth century when they were ousted in popularity by the rondel dagger. However, Ward Perkins notes that "they by no means went out of use at this time and representations of them occur at all periods".
Dimensions: length: 18.58mm; width: 44.44mm; thickness: 12.25mm; weight: 27.95g.
Reference: Ward-Perkins, J.B. 1993. London Museum Medieval Catalogue 1940. Anglia Publishing; Ipswich.
Class: Quillon
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Period to: MEDIEVAL [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Length: 18.58 mm
Width: 44.44 mm
Thickness: 12.25 mm
Weight: 27.95 g
Quantity: 1
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Manufacture method: Cast [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Incomplete [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Spatial data
Region: South East And London
County: Kent
District: Dartford
Parish: Southfleet
Restricted 4 Figure grid reference: TQ6270
The map has been degraded and provides an approximate location with a degree of random obfuscation.
Grid reference source: From finder
Grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Method of discovery: Metal detector
[scope notes]
General landuse: Cultivated land [scope notes]
Specific landuse: Operations to a depth greater than 0.25m [scope notes]
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Mrs Kate Sumnall
- [
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Identified by: Mrs Kate Sumnall - [view all attributed records]
Other reference numbers
References cited
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Audit data
Created:
Friday 21st January 2011
Updated: Friday 21st January 2011
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