seeing as how that's a byzantine style artwork fresco, it very much makes me wonder if byzantine daggers a few centuries earlier were similar.

although more analysis of artwork will have to follow

There's one very interesting page

http://sword-site.com/thread/99/byzantine-swo...rollTo=280

which covers much of the available information, both as artwork and findings.
Although the swords and sabres are well-documented, unfortunatelly the daggers are quite rare represented in the perod artwork not only in Byzantium, but in the whole Byzantine-influenced world - what I know personally are the fresco of St. Procopius I currently work on;
* a fresco of St. Mercurius from Lesnovo (1346)

[ Linked Image ]

showing extremely intriguing quillon-dagger with stiletto proportions
** another fresco of Betrayal of Christ with two quillon-daggers (or at least one; the other is more likely to be viewed as a short sword also)

[ Linked Image ]

*** and two or three images of ballock and ballock-like daggers

[ Linked Image ]

Recently, while recounting ideas about the scabbard suspesion, I examined again the fresco and encountered some very intriguing detail - the scabbard was worn over the shoulder on a short baldric (the whitish-greyish detail, parallel to the sword).

[ Linked Image ]

Of course, I don't plan to wear my dagger in such way, but I would like to know if someone knew other artwork showing such manner - under the upper arm, almost like modern under-arm holsters.
Do we have other parallels in art to carry the knife/dagger or this fresco is one of its kind?

This project was out of schedule for a long time without any reason. :wtf:

Anyway - this is the way I imagined the suspension in the beginning

[ Linked Image ]

Of course it's needles to say I was totally displeased with it. So, I decided to replace the leather straps between the raisers with metal strips. I chose brass in order to match its colour with the colour of the hilt.
The strips after some simple decorations an annealing

[ Linked Image ]

and after bending into shape and sanding. Note the pieces for the rings are added also.

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

And this

[ Linked Image ]

is how the whole assembly would look like after riveting. Note, here the details are held temporary in place by pieces of copper wire.
After about an hour the rivets were placed instead - now everything is ready for the leather straps.

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

It looks beautiful. It's hard to tell from the fresco if the suspension points should be on the same side of the sheath or not. 14th century Byzantine swords appear to have offset suspension.
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4893/14287/
[ Linked Image ]
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4893/14297/
[ Linked Image ]

Beautiful pictures!

I had similar idea in the beginning, but rejected it early.
My problem is the CoG - when the dagger is in the scabbard, it's just behind the forward ring, despite about 30 gr of molten lead poured in the chape. As a result the scabbard/dagger naturally lies almost horizontally with relatively slight inclination. This gave me no other choice, but to make a suspension with points on the same side.

This project is also finished.
Interestingly, almost near its end, I was able to pinpoint exactly where the fresco is - the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, or as it's known today Kariye Muzesi in Istanbul, Turkey. The magnificent frescos themselves were carried out between 1315 and 1321.

Well, this is my interpretation (in this post - the dagger with the scabbard):

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

* the dagger and closer to the hilt

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

** some more closer to the hilt

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

And finally - some stats (only for the dagger, w/o the scabbard):
* total length - 446 mm
** blade length - 299 mm
*** blade width (at the guard) - 36 mm
**** blade thickness – just a bit under 5 mm
***** mass - 475 gr
CoG: just on the forward surface of the guard
Steel: forged leaf-spring 65G
Hardness: about 58 HRC

As I already commented some time ago - incredible weapon, something I've never had or handled before.
It's extremely agile - both in attack and recovery, especially when worked with "thumb over the guard" manner. As I made a joke with a friend of mine (actually - the guy, who pointed my attention on the fresco months ago) - the dagger goes there where my mind wants, not my hand.

Bravo!

That is truly a beautiful piece of work.

Magnificent piece Boris! Masterful work!

Again, you not only provide a superior reproduction, but also provide an excellent step-by-step tutorial on the process. I enjoy “watching” your thought process unfold as the piece takes shape. :)

Another awesome project Boris! I especially love the asymmetry of the blade but in truth, it is all outstanding.