1807 16th Century Parrying dagger

This is the companion parrying dagger to our 16th c. Swept hilt Rapier, in the first sword gallery. swept hilt rapiers were very popular among the nobility during the late 16th and early 17th Centuries. During the Renaissance period, the rapier came to indicate its bearer's social status. Armed men were stopped at the gates of London and their swords were measured, if their blade was considered to be too long for their status, their swords were shortned on the spot, to be certain the men adhered to the English sumptuary laws.