Holy shit man. That last carry method finally puts the bollock dagger in context for me. Like I knew that the shape of the grip was probably a joke, but this is the first time I actually get it. That could also explain why the shape gradually became more abstract over time as Britain and the Continent became more overtly pious.
@Joshua Noble-- _"...became more overtly pious..."_ Aww, what a polite way to say, "became a bunch of uptight, self-righteous, insufferable prudes!" 🙂🤔😉
I´ve been wearing my bollock dagger in the last way you showed since I´ve seen an effigy of a knight near my home town in this very way. I like the medieval sense of humour very much. Maybe it wasn´t very sophisticated but it was funny.
@@jamiemahoney2446 BRIAN: Look. You've got it all wrong. You don't need to follow me. You don't need to follow anybody! You've got to think for yourselves. You're all individuals! FOLLOWERS: Yes, we're all individuals! BRIAN: You're all different! FOLLOWERS: Yes, we are all different! DENNIS: I'm not. FOLLOWERS: SHHHHH!
My living history/hema group used to have a young lady that did harness combat with us that wore her bollack dagger in the front like you showed last. The looks she would get at events was fantastic!
My first Renaissance Festival I had a bollock dagger, and even though I had heard they were often worn proudly at the very front, I felt a little awkward doing it so I had it at my side. The man at the gate said "You know you're wearing that dagger wrong." Well, if you insist! Wore it at my crotch the whole fair and didn't feel weird about it anymore!
Many, many moons ago, l was a security guard. I used to wear a 5-Dcell Maglite torch on my utility belt. I found that there was a spot on the belt where it would hang vertically, without any swinging about. Move it forward or backwards by a few millimeters, and it would swing and wave about all over the place. The torch would also hang straight down when you sat down.
I would imagine in certain instances, seconds matter, and knowing where your dagger rest at all times matter. I probably wouldn’t want it dangling freely around, but I guess that depends on the business I was doing. This video expanded my understanding, and was really enjoyable. I appreciate that these historical videos exist.
As a HEMA / swordfighting re-enactor, I have really come to love the bollock dagger worn in the front like that. It's easy to draw with either hand in either orientation, and stays out of my way otherwise. HIGHLY recommended for any dagger you need to get to quickly.
All this talk of Middle Ages reminded me of a reality: true medieval History is so much buried in prejudice and cliché that we can't appreciate how interesting those times were.
The problem I've had with the dagger dangling from a cord on my belt has been the cording breaking without my realizing, and loosing the dagger as a result. The Italia one you demonstrated, going around and then tying in the front, I did myself without realizing it was a style simply because it felt more comfortable. But the one where it goes through the loops on the pouch I wish I had known before! My pouches all have these big loops, and I HATE how they move around as I move, and I constantly have to pull them back around. Having my dagger through the loops would help to tighten that, AND remove the dagger being in the way! The Left Hand Dagger, though, is my favorite! I really need to get one that fits that way!
This reminds me of a time when i attended a "formal" dinner in armor. I went into a chamber to get dressed and upon leaving through the same door, i got stuck and kinda chipped the doorway a little. I was a LOT wider in gear, and moving in a crowd with a long blade at the side, sitting down was a little akward.
Very interesting. Being an Eagle Scout and former Combat Sailor, I have always carried a legal length folding knife. The 8" or so decorative Marlin spiking paracord on the end not only makes it easier to deploy but politely advertises that I regularly carry a knife. Much more convenient than carrying a concealed pistol, although ALL knife fights are messy and septic affairs. A bullet is much more sterile by comparison. John in Texas
I know its an older Video, but i like to wear my daggers on my back. Just the style you show first and then put the dagger behind my belt at the lower back.
When I wear Highland dress, I always wear the dirk at the front, tucked against the side of the sporran. It is really the only practical way to wear it, which is doubtlessly why it is portrayed being worn so in (almost) every contemporary sketch, print and painting that I've ever seen.
That bollock dagger in the front is akin to how some people carry a firearm, usually concealed, today. They call it "appendix carry." It is a popular form of carry because it doesn't "print" as much as on the hips, where the shape of the firearm is shown through your clothing and makes it obvious that there is a pistol there. It is also very comfortable and consistent when sitting down. As you can imagine, you want a pistol to sit rigid on your belt, to both protect it, and facilitate safe draw and holstering. As opposed to have it dangling from a thong for example. Or it being able to freely slide back and fourth on the belt. Drawing from the front is the same when sitting as standing, it's easy to get to, whilst still being rigid and offering good retention. Whereas drawing from the hip, requires you to contort your body slightly to clear the weapon from the holster. This way of carrying a firearm, essentially with the muzzle end pointed directed at your bollocks... is a point of contention for a lot of folks. As you could imagine, there are many men, in the past and present, who are weary of carrying a weapon this way. But it's interesting that even before the times of firearms, that men carried weapons in the same exact place lol.
Always appreciate these demonstrations! Thanks! The downside of carrying it in the watch coat method is the risk of blunt trauma to the groin in case of a fall, or cutting wounds if the dagger wears through the sheath. Lots of important veins and arteries there. I've always worn long knives and a bayonet behind the hip in a loose dangle for the reasons you've described. Especially keeps the handle from jabbing you if you sit down in the woods. You mentioned that frogs are a more 17th century item for daggers, is that true of sword sas well, or do you mean frogs weren't in common use as a concept until the 17th century?
Also dangling the dagger wont fall out when you bend over if the sheathe is loose or the dagger has no loop. I used a s&w hrt dagger when they first came out for about 2 years on a farm so im kindof the exact type of modern day equivalent this applies to lol. I loved that little knife but i didnt like keeping it clipped, bc the sheathe was attached to my beltline firm when i had to hang upside down, climb over fences, crawl under tractors, bend over to hook up different equipment to tractors rear, work on the roof, fall off the back of trucks, chase cows, if the dagger was unclipped it would fall out bc the sheathe had play but a crossgaurd clip if that makes sense. I then found out the much cheaper less cool way of just letting things hang is more practical in many ways, later i used it in my boot as it was meant to be a boot knife and it fell out less bc my feet rarely are upside down like my torso was. I love a firm in place sheath with a tight clasp on a blade and 1 simple crossgaurd strap, the handle type strap is the dumbest thing ever invented especially on knives with no crossgaurd bc the knife slides up and you cut your fingers or the whole knife goes through the leather ring anyway. I also wanted a kydex sheath so bad but was later glad it was once again the cheaper leather version bc the rounded leather was constantly making skin contact and it would have been awful if it was sharp plastic. Wearing the dagger outside my belt was also not possible bc you squeeze in and brush against so many things, putting half the dagger in my pants and clipping it from the other side is genius if your dagger is short, like conceal carrying a firearm bc everything brushes your jeans and not constantly flips your knife off your belt. I beat the living dogsht out of that thing in literally every single way you could possibly imagine. Its a popular knife now but then i was taking a risk and it held up. Theres multiple ways the company could have spent 20 more cents to make it way better though lol. And now for the price theres probably better options. I initially only got it bc its impossible to find a fairbairn sykes style dagger that isnt a toy or $500. And even the $500 one is just a rat tail you dont wanna use.
I hang my rondel dagger from the right side of my swordbelt in my Wars of the Roses foot-soldier's kit, using the thong the 2nd way shown in the video. Works quite well!
Not sure how I stumbled across your video as the time period you focus on is the one I focus least on. Regardless as a knife guy I always have at least two knives on my one being a fixed blade usually between 4-5", & occasionally a machete or larger chopping knife I really enjoyed the content as you mentioned the very issues I have dealt with whether it was a lighter 4" knife, or a larger 9-12" bladed knife weighin g around a pound. I look forward to checking out your content, & store.
I dropped onto your video, I'm an ECW re-enactor and taking my leave from an engraving of pikemen leaving a castle, I wear my 12" blade parallel to the belt at the back with it's short hilt to the RH. I wear everything on the RH, bandolier, snap sack, 1st Purse, my rear 2nd purse include Shotgun License, Explosive License, Penknife, Gas Lighter, and Screw. I don't wear a sword since running is sometimes required, which is when the front dangling eating knife can be painfull. Since my green soldiers coat(with two darts) hides the dagger, a musket in the LH to block, the knife comes as a surprise, dropping musket, grab chin, slice throat ear to ear with RH (I do drop my little finger to guard flesh wound).
I like the method with the inverted loop. The dagger doesn't slide around, but it swings out of the way when you're sitting, etc... Seems really practical.
Wearing a slightly shorter ballock dagger front and center works very well for fighting as a secondary weapon. I make ballock dagger from rattan for fighting with several different groups one of which allows lot more robust fighting and having that dagger right in the middle of you where you can grab it with either hand and a very short draw and start stabbing your opponent when you're close quarters works very well. It gives you lots of options.
The nylon sheath that Mossy Oak, or I should say Amazon, sent me with my bowie knife is comfortable and holds up for the most part. I had some problems with the rivets popping out but that wasn't anything that a little electrical tape couldn't stealthily fix.
The video I was waiting for! I was having trouble with a dagger that kept on tipping over and causing the dagger to fall out (very annoying in the middle of a combat show, trust me). The dagger isn't very long, and also the pommel isn't hollow. Hopefully I can somehow make that suspension technique work!
Tod's workshop is higher end. Expensive pieces and bespoke projects. Tod Cutler offers more stuff that you would find in a peasant's household. Great stuff either way.
Period glasses are rarely actually period. Mostly it's Renaissance fair fairy tales. I don't remember when wearing glasses everyday but just for reading actually became a thing, but it was very late. That's why reenactors wear obvious modern glasses (of they can't use lenses), then you see that it's a modern thing and you don't spread myths
@@commander31able60 Eye-glasses of the period were held up in front of the eyes in order to read. The modern arrangement whereby they are held on the face by the ears and nose came later. They weren't common either, I believe, because it was expensive and difficult to make good lenses.
Nice vid. I think the one distinction I would make is that in the early medieval period (pre-1066) we have enough compounding artwork to be prescriptive of specific wearing methods that we know were used signficantly. Seaxes were usually hung from two points over the front of the body, and baltic style fighting knives to the left or right side. There is a good group on facebook called the seax files that could tell you far more about the wearing of seaxes and baltic knives than I could if you wish to know more
Great video Todd, in the period you described was the use of a dagger commonplace or a fashion statement , or an essential regularly used defensive weapon. Thanks for the video, Richard from Canada.
thank you, i nearly bought a dagger frog (carriage) for my 12thC-17C Quillon Dagger (i decided mine is 12th so the frog is out) that i received from you yesterday - i love it and i know how to wear it now too.
I think I like the Mary Rose dagger best but no place to buy it in the states that I know off. Uh, I like them to be sharp enough that I can finish it up without needing anything special.
I have in fact seen the bollock dagger worn at the front by Norwegian reenactors (Not the viking ones). It immediately made the bollock my favourite knife and this way my favourite method for carrying one. Why? Because it is full of swagger.
@3:57 Why would you want something with spikes like that? I assume it's meant to be carried while unarmored? That seems like it'd be incredibly painful to grip without leather or chain mitts.
You may as well ware a dagger up side down as the handles are usually heavyer than the blade ( with some way of keeping it in the sheath, of course )! With out something to force them to stay right side up they will turn up side down !
My dagger is tied to my belt, Basicly the same way shown in the video. And I did it for the same reasons, so I get why people did it previously, nice to have it not be a mess
I did Scots in the SCA in the years before the internet so we had to figure much of this out ourselves. From my active duty military service, I learned to keep more than one knife on me... on specifically kept for food only. My dirk [well, it was more like a single-edged ballocks dag] originally came with a frog and I found that I had the problems described. Every time I went through a narrow-ish door or sat down, the damned thing would hang up and get in the way. It wasn't until I made a single piece scabbard and thong loop that it became comfortable.
It is actually remarkable how much less shame there was back then about sexuality and so on Bathing housed were literally public to poor men and women, and so i think that the last way to wear a dagger was probably a lot less judged upon as we might thini today Again thanks for a nicely done informational video, keep being authentic tod!
I was about to write a comment on wearing a baselard down the middle just when I got to the last part and you showed it. Not that long coats seem to be the sole reason for wearing'm like that.
Correct me if I'm mistaken but wearing a dagger vertical in front of you looks to have obvious problems when you sit down, bend over, ride a horse, or several other situations, but if the dagger were attached to the belt with a loose thong then the dagger could easily be moved to a horizontal - and much more comfortable - position.
Is there any iconography of daggers (especially left/off-hand daggers on the back) being warn inverted? So the handle would be angled down rather than up? Or is that a fantasy/hollywood/videogame anachronism?
The camera work, audio, scripting and presentation are insane in your videos. Do you have some sort of hired specialist for it? How are all of these so good? The quality of your videos is absolutely astonishing considering you are a medieval weapon specialist and a blacksmith.
Wow - thanks so much. Cameras, audio and editing are by my friend and "creative consultant" Mike who is sort of a professional in this area, but regardless very gifted. There is never a script, its all just ad-libbing and I guess I like things explained to me, so I like to explain....Thank you though, very kind.
I hang it on my backpacks strap loop on the draw side. Keeps it in the perfect place when the bag Is on. And keeps you from any “aggravated carry” issues.
It's interesting that the most popular way to carry firearms and defensive knives in the modern world is also at the front of the belt. While nowadays it would be covered by the wearer's shirt, carrying appendix still allows for the fastest and most consistent draw possible, especially in awkward positions. That's very important since being in an awkward position is almost guaranteed in a fight. What's old is new again.
I'm impressed man this gezzer manages to make a whole video about how to wear a dagger ohnestly im impressed, this was also very informative, now i know the pros of a free flowing dagger, because I thaught that would result in a lot of problems but no it actually doesn't, thanks mate.
I'm a bladesmith in Australia (not talking out my arse) and my heratage is scottish so i wear my kilt and full kit to weddings and funerals which includes a "too" long vertion of a dirk (55cm with handle). I find wearing it on a belt is a pain in the arse so generaly prefer the baldric style carry of a shoulder strap worn across the torso, my skaindubh (black knife, 7cm blade) is tucked in my sock or in a side pocket of my sporrighn. The only knife actually carry day to day is a stainly sliding knife / box cutter with its own belt clip.... yup im tired of sharpening! (joke/funny because its true)
@UNIDEN2211 Wouldn´t most positions be. kind of hard to reach. If the attacker isn´t totaly incompetent. if you are on your back. I think a second smaller knife/dagger somewherelse on the body would be good. as something in that size would be hard to hide. In what way would you place a dagger so it would be posible to reach. when you are on your back and on the ground.
Hobb once again appears looking as menacing as ever
Sorry accidentally removed a comment -apologies. Yes he is A great guy
Nobody laughs at your bollock dagger when you've got a Hobb standing behind you.
Holy shit man. That last carry method finally puts the bollock dagger in context for me. Like I knew that the shape of the grip was probably a joke, but this is the first time I actually get it. That could also explain why the shape gradually became more abstract over time as Britain and the Continent became more overtly pious.
I don't get it
@@potatokilr7789 bolocks mean balls
@Joshua Noble--
_"...became more overtly pious..."_
Aww, what a polite way to say, "became a bunch of uptight, self-righteous, insufferable prudes!" 🙂🤔😉
@Avlaen Amnell I know, but I don't get how the method of carrying/attaching to the belt puts it in perspective
@Avlaen Amnell I know, but I don't get how the method of carrying/attaching to the belt puts it in perspective
I´ve been wearing my bollock dagger in the last way you showed since I´ve seen an effigy of a knight near my home town in this very way. I like the medieval sense of humour very much. Maybe it wasn´t very sophisticated but it was funny.
Good man!
@@tods_workshop i think Roland warcecha did the same thing .
@@killerkraut9179 Yes, I've seen him do that too.
One to make life, one to take it. Seems pretty sophisticated to me. 😁
Wow! Do you know the name of the knight?
Tod: We're all free thinking individuals.
Me, in monotone: We're all individuals.
Can't remember the Life of Brian quote. Grr.
Roger roger.
I'm not.
@@jamiemahoney2446
BRIAN: Look. You've got it all wrong. You don't need to follow me. You don't need to follow anybody! You've got to think for yourselves. You're all individuals!
FOLLOWERS: Yes, we're all individuals!
BRIAN: You're all different!
FOLLOWERS: Yes, we are all different!
DENNIS: I'm not.
FOLLOWERS: SHHHHH!
we're all individuals. just like everybody else.
Now that i moved to London this guide will be very helpful, thank you! :)
Lmao
You'd be better off getting used to wearing a byrnie imo.
Yah, got a loicense for that free speech mate?
More useful in LA, New York, Detroit, San Francisco,Chicago, Austin etc. The US basically.
@starshipeleven don't know anything about English law but I can agree with the sentiment across the pond.
Is that a large dagger under your coat or are you just happy to see me?
Well if it`s a ballock then it`s kinda both
Made you look!
*codpiece punch*
Yes.
My living history/hema group used to have a young lady that did harness combat with us that wore her bollack dagger in the front like you showed last. The looks she would get at events was fantastic!
My first Renaissance Festival I had a bollock dagger, and even though I had heard they were often worn proudly at the very front, I felt a little awkward doing it so I had it at my side. The man at the gate said "You know you're wearing that dagger wrong." Well, if you insist! Wore it at my crotch the whole fair and didn't feel weird about it anymore!
Its very refreshing to hear reenactors say things like "go your own path, base things on these designs and no one can tell you its wrong."
Many, many moons ago, l was a security guard. I used to wear a 5-Dcell Maglite torch on my utility belt. I found that there was a spot on the belt where it would hang vertically, without any swinging about. Move it forward or backwards by a few millimeters, and it would swing and wave about all over the place. The torch would also hang straight down when you sat down.
I would imagine in certain instances, seconds matter, and knowing where your dagger rest at all times matter. I probably wouldn’t want it dangling freely around, but I guess that depends on the business I was doing. This video expanded my understanding, and was really enjoyable. I appreciate that these historical videos exist.
I love watching stuff like this. History is my favorite thing to learn about.
As a HEMA / swordfighting re-enactor, I have really come to love the bollock dagger worn in the front like that. It's easy to draw with either hand in either orientation, and stays out of my way otherwise. HIGHLY recommended for any dagger you need to get to quickly.
All this talk of Middle Ages reminded me of a reality: true medieval History is so much buried in prejudice and cliché that we can't appreciate how interesting those times were.
The problem I've had with the dagger dangling from a cord on my belt has been the cording breaking without my realizing, and loosing the dagger as a result. The Italia one you demonstrated, going around and then tying in the front, I did myself without realizing it was a style simply because it felt more comfortable. But the one where it goes through the loops on the pouch I wish I had known before! My pouches all have these big loops, and I HATE how they move around as I move, and I constantly have to pull them back around. Having my dagger through the loops would help to tighten that, AND remove the dagger being in the way! The Left Hand Dagger, though, is my favorite! I really need to get one that fits that way!
This reminds me of a time when i attended a "formal" dinner in armor. I went into a chamber to get dressed and upon leaving through the same door, i got stuck and kinda chipped the doorway a little. I was a LOT wider in gear, and moving in a crowd with a long blade at the side, sitting down was a little akward.
Very interesting. Being an Eagle Scout and former Combat Sailor, I have always carried a legal length folding knife. The 8" or so decorative Marlin spiking paracord on the end not only makes it easier to deploy but politely advertises that I regularly carry a knife. Much more convenient than carrying a concealed pistol, although ALL knife fights are messy and septic affairs. A bullet is much more sterile by comparison. John in Texas
The Sausage-Vest is back!
As usual great Video.
Harsh!
Yes I know; diet or new pourpoint time
@@tods_workshop You are too wholesome for YT Tod. Never change!
I’ve seen reenactors wearing them in the last way. Appeals to the reenactor sense of humour!
I know its an older Video, but i like to wear my daggers on my back. Just the style you show first and then put the dagger behind my belt at the lower back.
just looking at Hobb, I can feel my lunch money escaping my pocket
"Gimme all yer gold or I'll mug ya!"
@@kevinwestermann1001 isn’t that just a mugging with extra steps?
@@jonathanwells223 Muggers ain't the sharpest knives in the drawer. 🤣 Oooor I just had a freudian slip.
I've seen a bollocks dagger wore in the middle, without a coat, in one of Roland Warzecha videos.
are you sure it was the dagger? with the skin tight pants Roland uses it could have been other kind of weapon.
When I wear Highland dress, I always wear the dirk at the front, tucked against the side of the sporran. It is really the only practical way to wear it, which is doubtlessly why it is portrayed being worn so in (almost) every contemporary sketch, print and painting that I've ever seen.
I'm over the moon that you got your channel back, Tod! Long live the bollock!
That bollock dagger in the front is akin to how some people carry a firearm, usually concealed, today. They call it "appendix carry." It is a popular form of carry because it doesn't "print" as much as on the hips, where the shape of the firearm is shown through your clothing and makes it obvious that there is a pistol there.
It is also very comfortable and consistent when sitting down. As you can imagine, you want a pistol to sit rigid on your belt, to both protect it, and facilitate safe draw and holstering. As opposed to have it dangling from a thong for example. Or it being able to freely slide back and fourth on the belt. Drawing from the front is the same when sitting as standing, it's easy to get to, whilst still being rigid and offering good retention. Whereas drawing from the hip, requires you to contort your body slightly to clear the weapon from the holster.
This way of carrying a firearm, essentially with the muzzle end pointed directed at your bollocks... is a point of contention for a lot of folks. As you could imagine, there are many men, in the past and present, who are weary of carrying a weapon this way.
But it's interesting that even before the times of firearms, that men carried weapons in the same exact place lol.
'You could never have too many knives' in Logan Nine Fingers' experience. And this was a good one.
Always appreciate these demonstrations! Thanks! The downside of carrying it in the watch coat method is the risk of blunt trauma to the groin in case of a fall, or cutting wounds if the dagger wears through the sheath. Lots of important veins and arteries there. I've always worn long knives and a bayonet behind the hip in a loose dangle for the reasons you've described. Especially keeps the handle from jabbing you if you sit down in the woods.
You mentioned that frogs are a more 17th century item for daggers, is that true of sword sas well, or do you mean frogs weren't in common use as a concept until the 17th century?
Also dangling the dagger wont fall out when you bend over if the sheathe is loose or the dagger has no loop. I used a s&w hrt dagger when they first came out for about 2 years on a farm so im kindof the exact type of modern day equivalent this applies to lol. I loved that little knife but i didnt like keeping it clipped, bc the sheathe was attached to my beltline firm when i had to hang upside down, climb over fences, crawl under tractors, bend over to hook up different equipment to tractors rear, work on the roof, fall off the back of trucks, chase cows, if the dagger was unclipped it would fall out bc the sheathe had play but a crossgaurd clip if that makes sense.
I then found out the much cheaper less cool way of just letting things hang is more practical in many ways, later i used it in my boot as it was meant to be a boot knife and it fell out less bc my feet rarely are upside down like my torso was.
I love a firm in place sheath with a tight clasp on a blade and 1 simple crossgaurd strap, the handle type strap is the dumbest thing ever invented especially on knives with no crossgaurd bc the knife slides up and you cut your fingers or the whole knife goes through the leather ring anyway.
I also wanted a kydex sheath so bad but was later glad it was once again the cheaper leather version bc the rounded leather was constantly making skin contact and it would have been awful if it was sharp plastic. Wearing the dagger outside my belt was also not possible bc you squeeze in and brush against so many things, putting half the dagger in my pants and clipping it from the other side is genius if your dagger is short, like conceal carrying a firearm bc everything brushes your jeans and not constantly flips your knife off your belt.
I beat the living dogsht out of that thing in literally every single way you could possibly imagine. Its a popular knife now but then i was taking a risk and it held up. Theres multiple ways the company could have spent 20 more cents to make it way better though lol. And now for the price theres probably better options. I initially only got it bc its impossible to find a fairbairn sykes style dagger that isnt a toy or $500. And even the $500 one is just a rat tail you dont wanna use.
I hang my rondel dagger from the right side of my swordbelt in my Wars of the Roses foot-soldier's kit, using the thong the 2nd way shown in the video. Works quite well!
I like seeing videos done in period costume. Keep them coming.
Not sure how I stumbled across your video as the time period you focus on is the one I focus least on. Regardless as a knife guy I always have at least two knives on my one being a fixed blade usually between 4-5", & occasionally a machete or larger chopping knife I really enjoyed the content as you mentioned the very issues I have dealt with whether it was a lighter 4" knife, or a larger 9-12" bladed knife weighin g around a pound. I look forward to checking out your content, & store.
I dropped onto your video, I'm an ECW re-enactor and taking my leave from an engraving of pikemen leaving a castle, I wear my 12" blade parallel to the belt at the back with it's short hilt to the RH. I wear everything on the RH, bandolier, snap sack, 1st Purse, my rear 2nd purse include Shotgun License, Explosive License, Penknife, Gas Lighter, and Screw. I don't wear a sword since running is sometimes required, which is when the front dangling eating knife can be painfull. Since my green soldiers coat(with two darts) hides the dagger, a musket in the LH to block, the knife comes as a surprise, dropping musket, grab chin, slice throat ear to ear with RH (I do drop my little finger to guard flesh wound).
I just ordered a seax from you! One of coolest knives purely based on how it looked when worn.
I like the method with the inverted loop. The dagger doesn't slide around, but it swings out of the way when you're sitting, etc... Seems really practical.
I bought my wife one of your rondell daggers. She loves it!
Thanks for putting out this video. It clears up a lot of questions. I'm gonna have to add a bullock dagger to my Tod's Workshop collection...
Thanks Tod I have one of your daggers and was wondering if I was wearing it correctly. Another great video.
The through the belt loops of the pouch method is pretty much how I wear a modern utility knife in my military webbing.
6:49 THAT! That in a dirk. That’s how I would carry a side arm blade. It just makes the most sense.
I never would’ve found this video if TH-cam hadn’t autoplayed from a very unrelated video… but I’m glad it did!
I love Hob's hat, what do you mean by at the pill garlic?
Wearing a slightly shorter ballock dagger front and center works very well for fighting as a secondary weapon. I make ballock dagger from rattan for fighting with several different groups one of which allows lot more robust fighting and having that dagger right in the middle of you where you can grab it with either hand and a very short draw and start stabbing your opponent when you're close quarters works very well. It gives you lots of options.
The nylon sheath that Mossy Oak, or I should say Amazon, sent me with my bowie knife is comfortable and holds up for the most part. I had some problems with the rivets popping out but that wasn't anything that a little electrical tape couldn't stealthily fix.
Glad I found that this video, and from the same people I ordered from! You solved my rondel problem
The video I was waiting for! I was having trouble with a dagger that kept on tipping over and causing the dagger to fall out (very annoying in the middle of a combat show, trust me).
The dagger isn't very long, and also the pommel isn't hollow. Hopefully I can somehow make that suspension technique work!
May I ask where the exact difference between Tod Cuttler and Tod's Workshop is?
Cutler sells most low-end, simple and easily affordable stuff. Workshop is high-end pieces, custom work and so on.
@starshipeleven So we never had an official distinction or something?
Completely right-thanks
Tod's workshop is higher end. Expensive pieces and bespoke projects. Tod Cutler offers more stuff that you would find in a peasant's household. Great stuff either way.
If I'd had this information, I'd have been a customer a year ago.
Todd needs some period-appropriate glasses and he would look perfect.
Period glasses are rarely actually period.
Mostly it's Renaissance fair fairy tales. I don't remember when wearing glasses everyday but just for reading actually became a thing, but it was very late.
That's why reenactors wear obvious modern glasses (of they can't use lenses), then you see that it's a modern thing and you don't spread myths
Glimmlampe1982 apprently glasses were invented in 1290.
@@commander31able60 yes, but those were only used for reading. Not for wearing always like modern glasses.
At least to my knowledge
I actually wear contacts when I reenact, but these are filmed after hours, so generally back in specs by then
@@commander31able60 Eye-glasses of the period were held up in front of the eyes in order to read. The modern arrangement whereby they are held on the face by the ears and nose came later. They weren't common either, I believe, because it was expensive and difficult to make good lenses.
Would you do a tutorial video on how to tie those decorative knots like you use to secure the ballock knife?
2:09 that knot (around the belt) is called a Cow Hitch, though I'm sure other names exist in other places.
Nice vid. I think the one distinction I would make is that in the early medieval period (pre-1066) we have enough compounding artwork to be prescriptive of specific wearing methods that we know were used signficantly. Seaxes were usually hung from two points over the front of the body, and baltic style fighting knives to the left or right side.
There is a good group on facebook called the seax files that could tell you far more about the wearing of seaxes and baltic knives than I could if you wish to know more
this will be super useful for my upcoming trip to London, guna need to practice my draw arm too
That's a cool ass pouch. I wish maxpedition creates a modern dagger pouch for fixed blades. That will be a great EDC kit.
Great video Todd, in the period you described was the use of a dagger commonplace or a fashion statement , or an essential regularly used defensive weapon. Thanks for the video, Richard from Canada.
thank you, i nearly bought a dagger frog (carriage) for my 12thC-17C Quillon Dagger (i decided mine is 12th so the frog is out) that i received from you yesterday - i love it and i know how to wear it now too.
thank you very much ,for the historical research.
I like the idea of wearing the dagger high on the chest at a slight angle for the right hand
A fun little video! Thanks for making it.
That opening is satisfactory af
that does it! I will do the final set up when where possible!
Ty for another great video. Would have been nice to have been shown some of the pictures of dagger wearing men you've mentioned
I think I like the Mary Rose dagger best but no place to buy it in the states that I know off. Uh, I like them to be sharp enough that I can finish it up without needing anything special.
In the off chance you're free Tod I was curious where I could get a coat like the one at @7:15
I have in fact seen the bollock dagger worn at the front by Norwegian reenactors (Not the viking ones). It immediately made the bollock my favourite knife and this way my favourite method for carrying one. Why? Because it is full of swagger.
@3:57 Why would you want something with spikes like that? I assume it's meant to be carried while unarmored? That seems like it'd be incredibly painful to grip without leather or chain mitts.
You should do a video talking about your Reenactment outfit! Truly looks amazing
You may as well ware a dagger up side down as the handles are usually heavyer than the blade ( with some way of keeping it in the sheath, of course )! With out something to force them to stay right side up they will turn up side down !
I agree that 'perpetrate' is the correct verb for that particular joke
My dagger is tied to my belt, Basicly the same way shown in the video. And I did it for the same reasons, so I get why people did it previously, nice to have it not be a mess
I finally know how to wear my dagger! What a relief!
Has anyone found a reason why vikings wear the seax horizontally in front of their hips? It seems to be unique to the period.
I did Scots in the SCA in the years before the internet so we had to figure much of this out ourselves. From my active duty military service, I learned to keep more than one knife on me... on specifically kept for food only. My dirk [well, it was more like a single-edged ballocks dag] originally came with a frog and I found that I had the problems described. Every time I went through a narrow-ish door or sat down, the damned thing would hang up and get in the way. It wasn't until I made a single piece scabbard and thong loop that it became comfortable.
Excellent video. As always.
It is actually remarkable how much less shame there was back then about sexuality and so on
Bathing housed were literally public to poor men and women, and so i think that the last way to wear a dagger was probably a lot less judged upon as we might thini today
Again thanks for a nicely done informational video, keep being authentic tod!
I was about to write a comment on wearing a baselard down the middle just when I got to the last part and you showed it. Not that long coats seem to be the sole reason for wearing'm like that.
Correct me if I'm mistaken but wearing a dagger vertical in front of you looks to have obvious problems when you sit down, bend over, ride a horse, or several other situations, but if the dagger were attached to the belt with a loose thong then the dagger could easily be moved to a horizontal - and much more comfortable - position.
I’ve been looking forward to this :) -Count Dooku
Wow.. was literally googling this yesterday. Can you do a video on eating knives too?
What's the difference between a Tod's Workshop and Tod Cutler piece ( 6:15 )?
Is there any iconography of daggers (especially left/off-hand daggers on the back) being warn inverted? So the handle would be angled down rather than up? Or is that a fantasy/hollywood/videogame anachronism?
Horizontally across the small of the back, sharp side up for close quarter gutting, as per 8th/11th century Anglo Saxon
Was just thinking about how I wanted to wear my new Swiss Baselard that you made 😊
The camera work, audio, scripting and presentation are insane in your videos. Do you have some sort of hired specialist for it? How are all of these so good? The quality of your videos is absolutely astonishing considering you are a medieval weapon specialist and a blacksmith.
Wow - thanks so much. Cameras, audio and editing are by my friend and "creative consultant" Mike who is sort of a professional in this area, but regardless very gifted. There is never a script, its all just ad-libbing and I guess I like things explained to me, so I like to explain....Thank you though, very kind.
I always like to see a new video from Tod's Linger.... Workshop :P
I hang it on my backpacks strap loop on the draw side. Keeps it in the perfect place when the bag Is on. And keeps you from any “aggravated carry” issues.
It’s a cold steel massive thrower tho, I keep my nice Victorian and Renaissance ones in the case where they belong lol
Behind atttacjed to your belt with handle facing main hand obv. Super simple
I've seen a bunch of videos with Roland Warzecha (Dimicator) where he chooses to carry the dagger on top of his naughty bits as per the last variant.
great video soon you can look at the wurk off JoergSpraves bow.
Ah! So that's why it's called a bollock. Great vid, mate
I really like that left hand dagger at 6:58 but can't find it on your shop. Was this dagger made by someone else perhaps?
No a custom piece by me, but have a look here todsworkshop.com/collections/historical-daggers/products/late-16th-left-hand-dagger
Such a fan, Tod. Thanks.
It's interesting that the most popular way to carry firearms and defensive knives in the modern world is also at the front of the belt. While nowadays it would be covered by the wearer's shirt, carrying appendix still allows for the fastest and most consistent draw possible, especially in awkward positions. That's very important since being in an awkward position is almost guaranteed in a fight. What's old is new again.
Good stuff Tod, informative as always.
i love that vest you wearing. where can i get one or make maybe. seems simple in construction.
Thank you so much for the subtitles!!
Fantastic video!
I'm impressed man this gezzer manages to make a whole video about how to wear a dagger ohnestly im impressed, this was also very informative, now i know the pros of a free flowing dagger, because I thaught that would result in a lot of problems but no it actually doesn't, thanks mate.
I've always wondered about if the those were meant to wear "front and center". Given the nature of codpieces, it would be reasonable.
I'm a bladesmith in Australia (not talking out my arse) and my heratage is scottish so i wear my kilt and full kit to weddings and funerals which includes a "too" long vertion of a dirk (55cm with handle). I find wearing it on a belt is a pain in the arse so generaly prefer the baldric style carry of a shoulder strap worn across the torso, my skaindubh (black knife, 7cm blade) is tucked in my sock or in a side pocket of my sporrighn. The only knife actually carry day to day is a stainly sliding knife / box cutter with its own belt clip.... yup im tired of sharpening! (joke/funny because its true)
Wonder if you could do the back belt style with a regular dagger also?
I think I like the lefthand dagger on the back best. I think that is the way I would carry any fighting knife. even if I use it as a backup weapon.
@UNIDEN2211 Wouldn´t most positions be. kind of hard to reach. If the attacker isn´t totaly incompetent. if you are on your back. I think a second smaller knife/dagger somewherelse on the body would be good. as something in that size would be hard to hide. In what way would you place a dagger so it would be posible to reach. when you are on your back and on the ground.