What type of dagger would an English Archer in the 12th to 13th century have used? Also anyone familiar with what bladesmiths will be at the Norman Oklahoma Ren Faire?
Will Shadowlurker
This is outside your date range (14th century) but it might be worth a look:
http://www.interknife.co.uk/shopping/archerspick.html
That looks pretty good, wonder if they will ship to the US? Anywho thanks.
Will
something simple, that could be used as a regular hunting knife as well . . . something along the lines of a rondel dagger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rondel_(dagger)) (the link is to wikipedia, YMMV).
Thanks for the wiki tip Milord escherblacksmith. Has some interesting links with it.
Will
I think a seax would be the most likely dagger -- you can see samples at the same http://www.interknife.co.uk link. Seax's ranged from short to long, but were basically working/eating "knives/machetes"; they weren't a special battle weapon, but a utility tool.
Another one to consider, this is great. Thank you Milord Pascal. Thanks for all the replies and the history lessons.
Will
A rondel would be to late for your period, a seax would be a possibility for the earlier part of you period. You would be looking along those sort of simple tool/ultilitarian lines though, as specialixed knifes for fighting weren't really in use until the very end of you're period and the wearing of a knife/dagger in addition to the sword even for the nobility wouldn't come into fashion until the 14th century.
I think I'm leaning towards the Archers Pick from Inter Knife, hope I can get it shipped to the US. Thanks for all the replys.
Will