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Ballock dagger: HEN.M.302-1933

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An image of Ballock dagger
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An image of Ballock dagger
An image of Ballock dagger
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Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Dagger of Balloak form, the hilt of wood. No pommel or cap, just rounded at the top. Very phallic in shape. The lobes are furnished with a deep ferrule of steel, with latten inserts, between them and the top of the blade, which is of very stout, back-edged triangular section, the faces hollowed.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Measurements and weight

Length: 37.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

15th Century
Circa 1450 - 1500

Note

The grip does not belong: a restoration.

This type of dagger was common throughout Europe in the 15th century. They have a very sturdy blade of triangular shape, ideal for stabbing. The name comes from the form of the hilt which was thought to imitate male anatomy.

Western European, perhaps English or Flemish

Components of the work

Hilt composed of wood (plant material) Length 12.5 cm
Blade, Lobes composed of steel
Blade Length 25.5 cm
Steel

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEN.M.302-1933
Primary reference Number: 19168

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 30 April 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Ballock dagger" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/19168 Accessed: 2025-12-11 11:42:36

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/19168 |title=Ballock dagger |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-11 11:42:36|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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