I offer for sale most certainly my earliest weapon and most intriguing weapon to date! This believed to be original Medieval Baselard dagger (in relic condition) was reputedly found at the battlesite in the Bannockburn river near to Telford Bridge, during the early 1800's and eventually was sold at auction during the 1970's becoming part of a private Glasgow collection.
The dagger is in wonderful overall condition, considering it is over 700 years old and has lain at the bottom of a river at the battlefield for over 500 years. The waisted wooden grip slips/handle has long since rotted away but the tang remains firm, and certain decorative detail remains to the forte of the dagger blade, namely two diagonal short fullers forming an acute triangle, seen each side of the blade.
The blade itself is of shallow diamond cross-section and measures 9 1/2 inches in length. The overall length of the weapon is 13 3/4 inches long. The pommel shape is the typical capital letter "T" shape.
Was this fine dagger dropped by a retreating English medieval soldier in 1314, pushed back into the river by Robert Bruce's own Schiltrom of Highland and Island warriors? Hundreds of English soldiers and horses drowned in the river during the rout. Telford bridge lies near the War Memorial at the battle-field.
The Battle of Bannockburn was fought over the 23rd and 24th of June 1314, south of Stirling in Scotland, where King Robert I (the Bruce) won a famous victory over the forces of English King Edward II, during the First War of Scottish Independence. The victory by the Scots against the much larger force of English at Bannockburn is the most celebrated battle in Scottish history, and for centuries it has been celebrated in Scottish art and verse.
The Baselard dagger originated in Basel, Switzerland, during the late 13th century/early 14th century, but it's popularity grew rapidly and it very soon saw use all over Europe and also was very popular in England. It was worn in the waist belt of the better off citizen merchant types and often carried by knight's pages and squires as a symbol of high status. In 1381 a Baselard dispatched the Peasant leader Wat Tyler and in 1388 King Richard II of England banned the carrying of Baselards by citizens of low status, labourers and servants due to the perceived use of these weapons in violent crime.