7 Most Popular Types of Daggers

Daggers are traditionally hand-held stabbing weapons, most often used in combat or hunting. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They have existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to the Bronze Age. They can also be referred to as knives; however, there is no precise dividing line between a dagger and a knife. 

Popular designs include the stiletto and long dagger (also known as the bayonet). The hilt may take one of several forms such as a quillon, looped grip from handle to tip, or from guard to pommel with rings or reliefs. The distinctive shape and manner of use of this weapon have made it the basis of military and police symbols.

In addition to its use as a weapon, this weapon has been used as an accessory to indicate a criminal's status or rank. For example, in "The Thirty Nine Steps", Richard Hannay uses his silver six-inch hunting knife to kill several people including villains M. and K., who are wearing dinner jackets. 

The killing of "M." is accompanied by John Buchan's admonition to "Remember the dagger!", and for many years, it has been traditional for actors playing Hannay to end their scenes with a line about a knife. The glamorous commando knife has also been adopted in popular culture. 

Who Invented Daggers?

Daggers are one of the oldest weapons we know of, with a history that can be traced back to the Bronze Age. These small but deadly blades have been used in combat and as tools for thousands of years. They were designed to be held in a variety of positions, but most often they are carried tucked into a belt or sheath at the waistline.

The origins of these weapons remain unknown because there is no evidence of how these weapons first came into being. It’s hard to say who invented daggers since these weapons originated in ancient times when there were no record-keeping devices like paper and digital cameras.

daggers

Tracing the history of these weapons can be hard because it’s impossible to find references on how they were used and developed. The word dagger itself comes from Old English, meaning “dagger or small sword.” An English-language quote from the 12th century refers to a war hammer called a fauchard which was used to drive down an enemy's shield during battle.

The earliest types found in ancient Egypt have been dated back to around 3100 BC, but it wasn’t until around 2000 BC that we see images of people holding and carrying these weapons. They are also known as flints and were used for hunting purposes before being replaced by bow-and-arrows.

Famous Types of Daggers

Understand the different types of daggers, like dirks and stilettos, and how to choose one for your next knife-throwing battle. If you're looking for a special weapon to fight off those zombies, this post will show you where to find them.

There are a few different types of daggers that are typically used by humans. This can vary anywhere from medieval times in Europe to more modern-day uses with the notable exception being Native Americans who use tomahawks as their weapon of choice. Regardless of your culture or age; these cool knives have different shapes, sizes, and uses depending on what you plan on doing with them.

1. Dirks

Dirks are typically Scottish weapons. They can be found in many different variations but the main types are street dirk and dress dirk. A street dirk is typically a smaller bladed weapon that is used for robbery or self-defense purposes whereas the dress dirk is longer and heavier than the street version and is meant to be used primarily as a status symbol or a marriage gift. 

Both of these types are typically double-edged, which means they have two knife blades on either side of the handle, which allows you to attack someone while holding your weapon in one hand. Dirks are usually found in many different shapes and sizes although they are typically very short in length. The length of the blade varies depending on how much you want to attack someone with it.

2. Stilettos

Although most people would not consider these daggers traditional, the name "stiletto knife" is actually the word for "little knife." Stilettos have been around for thousands of years, ever since Roman times when people started using very small knives as their weapons of choice. 

Stiletto

Today, most people use stilettos as their weapon of choice, particularly if they are in the military. One of the main reasons for this is that you can use these knives in what is called a "throw." This means that you can throw the knife with such accuracy and force as to hit your target without causing any damage to yourself.

3. Push Daggers

Push daggers are usually associated with ninjas because of the way in which they are used. The push dagger itself is typically long and pointed at the end, with the exception being that a small portion of it has been dulled to allow you to hold the dagger without hurting yourself. 

Push dagger

The way in which you would use this knife is by holding it in one hand with your arm bent so that your knuckles are pointing towards your forearm; then, you would secretly get close to someone and "push" this blade into their body. The main purpose for this type of weapon was self-defense but since it was also illegal back then, most people used them for assassination purposes.

4. Straight Daggers

Straight daggers are just as they sound; they are typically very long and thin. These types of weapons have been around for thousands of years. They were once the most popular weapons used in the ancient world, particularly by the Romans and Greeks. 

The main part of using these types is to get close to someone and lunge toward them with this knife so that you can thrust it into their body. When using straight daggers, it is vital that you do not think about parrying attacks from your enemy; instead, the goal is to get close enough so that you can stab them in their body without hitting any vital organs.

5. Throwing Daggers

Throwing knives

Throwing types are similar to spears in that they can be thrown from a small distance using a throwing arm or sometimes even from hand to hand. By using these throwing knives at your enemy, you can do a great deal of damage as long as you are able to get close enough to them.

6. Ram Daggers

They are very short, slender blades with pointed ends. The purpose of using this type of weapon is to stab an enemy and then use your momentum to kick them back towards you where they will land on the other side. It is vital that you have good balance when using ram because if you do not, the blade could easily go in the other direction and do serious damage to your own body. 

7. Trident Daggers

The Trident is one of the most unusual types of daggers that you will ever come across. The blade is extremely broad and typically triangular in shape, just like a trident. 

The reason for this is that the main use for this type of weapon was to attack multiple people at once from behind so that they could not defend themselves against your attack. This weapon was outlawed in many different countries many years ago and is typically only used in times of war or during assassinations.

How to Protect Yourself Using Daggers?

Now you know what types of daggers are ideal as self defense weapons and how to find them depending on your needs, let's go over some steps you can take to protect yourself with this weapon:

  • Quick Push 

Push dagger

If you're in a tight situation and you want to quickly defend yourself then simply pushing your dagger into an attacker will achieve this goal without giving you hand pain or getting injured yourself. To do this, simply aim the tip of your weapon at the attacker's chest and push the knife in as hard as you can without aiming for a particular body part.

  • Stabbing 

If you want to kill your attacker or inflict damage to their body then stabbing is the best option for you. Picking a target is important when deciding where to attack them, but there are some places that are easier than others for a dagger. 

For instance, if an attacker is taking swings at you and has missed then you have three options; (1.) back away from your opponent, (2.) parry his/her punches by blocking them with your dagger, and then (3.) counter attacking with another blow.