Hello Zack. Concentrating on a dagger I see. It is good you are doing research on them. There are numerous designs of quillons, so yes the very forward curving ones are just one style. I have seen curved ones, flat ones, even some backward curved ones. Personally I prefer the quillons to have some forward curve, but not go beyond the blade edge. You could consider a main gauche a quillon dagger. They have more sharply curved quillons in some cases, but also some have flat quillons. Just depends on the maker and their preferences. Mine was based on a 1700's spanish style, but not an exact reproduction by any means. I went with what I felt looked right. So in answer to your second question, you are the maker, so it is your choice, as long as the blade is at least ten inches, at least 300 layers of damascus in some pattern, and has quillons and a fluted wire wrapped handle. I know you were asking about the damascus in an earlier thread. That was covered, so yes you have a lot of freedom in your dagger.

Good luck

Brion

Another brief note. The daggers on Kevins website are some of my favorites. The man knows daggers.

Brion

The shape, size and configuration of the quillons is determined by the fighting style they were developed for. In earlier periods there often was no need for them and you had things like bullock daggers and rondell daggers. These had simple guards designed to keep the hand on the handle in very powerful, armor piercing, thrusts, and it would be foolish to try to catch or bind one of the sword blades of the period with any sort of quillon. With the advent of the rapier style sword and a whole new style of fighting in the later 15th century, the very curved quillons came into play following the influence of the Italian fighting styles. In the late 16th and 17th centuries the Spanish style favored more straight quillons with the main gauche and accompanying cup hilts. Many German styles used straight quillons, and many much shorter than their southern counterparts.

For your master dagger, both present their own set of challenges and aesthetics. It is more difficult to keep things all aligned and straight with curved quillons, and I have found it easiest to finish them straight and then bend them into position. I think it is easier to get out of proportion with straight quillons and often, if this is the case, bend quillons that were straight because they were just too long to stay that way. Although I find curved quillons more visually appealing, (I am heavily into 15th century Italian styles) this is not always the case and there are times that a dagger just sort of begs to have the solid lines of a straight quillon.

|quoted:

Another brief note. The daggers on Kevins website are some of my favorites. The man knows daggers.

Brion

In truth I believe I am the only one off enough in the head to actually like daggers. Not just looking at them, who wouldn't love the look of a nice dagger, but I actually enjoy making them more than any other style of blade, I think most would find that that just sort of weird <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> .

I will just think out loud if you don't mind.

By now, a simple, straight, "stick" dagger with the minimum required elements should be within the capabilities of an advanced JS. But, this being your masterpiece, is that what you want to lay on the table? It depends on you of course, but I would hope that an applicant would design some extra detail and beauty in a dagger. This would include the quillons.

Zack, it's great that you are planning ahead, because that is just what it will take to make something special. Details.............. That's where it's at. Don't think of money or the time it takes, just do it.

Zack

You have now heard from and received advice from three of the best. Good luck in your quest for the Master Smith stamp.

The photo below has examples of both Quillon styles and one dagger is by Master Smith Don Fogg and the other by Master Smith Kevin Cashen. I have this composite photo posted on the Master Class section of the Techniques page on the ABS Website.

I am with you Kevin. Daggers are fun. Guess some kind of weird here too. Besides they look so great when they are done.

Brion

Zack, do a lot of research and find daggers that appeal to you. Then take elements from them and make them your own.