Main-gauche
Also known as: main-gauche, left hand dagger
A left-hand dagger of Renaissance fencing with a wide, usually triangular finger guard; the fencer used it to parry thrusts while the right hand wielded the rapier.
Quick Facts
About the weapon
The parrying dagger, French main-gauche, appeared in the early to mid-16th century as the so-called left-hand dagger. It spread most widely in Spain and Italy, reached the peak of its development in the late 17th century and was still used in the 18th century. The blade often measured around 48 cm or a little more, and the guard's quillons typically ran 28 cm or more from end to end. A typical feature is a wide finger guard that curves from the guard toward the pommel and usually has a triangular outline. The dagger was mostly made as a set with a cup-hilted rapier, in matching fittings and decoration. In the left hand, the fencer used it chiefly to parry the opponent's thrusts, while the dominant hand wielded the rapier. The cited source for fighting with a left-hand dagger is Giacomo di Grassi's 1570 treatise, published in English in 1594 as True Art of Defense.
Parts of the weapon
- Guard
Related weapons
- Used together with: Rapier
Care and maintenance
Historical sources
- Ragione di adoprar sicuramente l'arme (Giacomo di Grassi, 1570) (dýka v levé ruce)