"The Quillon Dagger" 2013 ABS Board of Directors Knife of the Year

by Kevin Cashen, Master Smith

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Kevin Cashen’s knife is a classic European quillon dagger. The European quillon dagger has for centuries been considered one of the great knife styles. The ABS founders and board viewed this style of knife as the epitome of artistic skill and accomplishment. In fact it was so revered that all applicants for the Master Smith rank must demonstrate their competence by submitting for judging a knife of this type. Kevin indicates that behind all this he has in recent years received significant praise and attention for his work with daggers. Oddly enough Kevin states he has a “real passion for rapiers and other swords of the 15^th through the 17^th century” and the daggers of the same period were an accompaniment to rapiers and swords of that time.

As Kevin indicated, “In short I could have made a bowie for my donated piece but that just wouldn't be me, and if not a bowie what blade would be more appropriate for a Mastersmith to do than a European quillon dagger.”

Kevin’s mastery of the period adds a twist such that this superb piece is a traditional dagger in the style of those from the late renaissance and not rather than the ABS standard. Kevin states, “I do not often copy daggers exactly to an original like I would a sword, but instead prefer to use all the traditional elements to make one that is uniquely mine. The dagger I have made for the ABS action is what I envision as partner to an Italian rapier from around 1550 that is in a collection in Vienna.

The dagger is 18 “overall in length with a 12.5” blades made from 320 twisted layers of O-1 and L6 tool steels. The blade was marquenched using high and low temp salt baths. The handle is fluted wood that is entirely covered in iron wire that conforms to the shape of the fluting in the traditional manner of the period. The handle wrapping is bound tightly on each end with a traditional Turk’s head out of twisted copper wire. The pommel and guard are carved steel that has been bead blasted and fire blued to an almost iridescent black color. The guard has hexagonal cross sectioned Quillons curving downward until parallel to the blade with finials carved into opening flower buds. The Guard also has a side ring, as did many daggers of the period, which is also carved in a hexagonal shape and is encrusted with a silver flower in the central panel to match similar decorations on the front and back panels of the hexagonal pommel. Wow!

Note: Congratulations to Master Smith Kevin Cashen, Matherton Forge, for winning the award for Best Fantasy Art Cutlery for this dagger at the Badger Knife Show on March 22nd at the Janesville Conference Center.