Knife vs Dagger: What's the Difference?

Today we take a look at the distinction between knives, which are primarily tools, and daggers, which are primarily weapons. During the medieval period many people carried a knife on their person, whether they were a peasant, a townsman, or a warrior. But carrying dedicated weapons was probably much less common in most places, most of the time.
The Arms and Armor medieval knife is a good example of medieval "every day carry" As opposed to utility knives, daggers often have a guard that protects the hand, at least somewhat, from the blade of an enemy and that helps to prevent the users hand from sliding down onto the blade during thrusts or struggles over the weapon. Many daggers feature a cruciform hilt like that of a European sword. Others, such as rondel daggers, had round discs that severed a similar function.
On the other hand, this distinction between the words "knife" and "dagger" is likely a modern one. What would have mattered in the medieval period was not what the item was called, but whether it was seen as being primarily a tool or primarily a weapon.
Check out our full selection of medieval and Renaissance knives and daggers here: www.arms-n-armor.com/collecti...

[@gunnarhoegnison6392]

In german the distinction between a "Messer" (=knife) and a "Dagger" (=Dolch) is defined by the number of edges of the blade: anything with a single edge is called a "Messer", all double edged blades are a "Dolch" (=dagger). Nevertheless, a single edged rondel dagger will still be called a "ScheibenDOLCH", for the same reasons you mentioned: it is made for fighting and in this case it is defined by its purpose.

[@stephenpajer3920]

in Germany and Austria, there were different guilds for knife makers and sword makers. You were only allowed to produce products that are covered by the regulations of your guild.
A sword (or dagger) was made by: Bladesmith (ger: Klingenschmied), Hiltmaker (ger: Gehilzmacher), Sharpener and polisher (ger: Schwertfeger).
A knife was made by: the knifemaker (ger: Messerer).
So boiled down to the essence, a knife was cheaper, because you only had to pay one person and not three, also you only paid guild fees one time and not three times.

[@freestatefellow]

Neat. I feel like the tool/weapon line gets especially blurry with things like the Bauernwehr.

[@raphlvlogs271]

various daggers and swords were probably also used as tools as well when purpose built implements were not available

[@MacDorsai]

Like many have said, daggers generally have a double edged blade. Many legal codes in the US distinguish Daggers (double-edged) and Dirks (single-edge) from knives (single-edge). I'm going to say that while most daggers, dirks and knives follow this convention, not all. I've never see a Bowie knife described as a dagger or dirk, but in most cases they are very clearly intended for fighting. Historically, some States, Territories, Cities banned the carry of Bowie knives, just as many still ban daggers and dirks (and Balisong/"Butterfly knives"). I'll add that I agree, daggers and dirks are primarily intended for stabbing, not cutting.

[@PieterBreda]

The same distinction in Dutch. Dolk= dagger and mes=messer=knife.

[@chrisnewport7826]

Option of two fresh edges on blade.

[@ventana2011]

Un cuchillo Bowie es un arma iconica para pelear, pero no es una daga.

[@ventana2011]

Otra duda es la diferencia entre daga y puñal.

[@Templarium]

Busca el canal Antiguo Acero Español. Explica la diferencia. Puñal son armas pequeñas utilizadas para apuñalar. Daga se utilizaba en conjunto con la espada y tamaño de la Daga es 1/3 el tamaño de la espada. Hoy en día se ha perdido el término puñal y se usa principalmente daga de forma incorrecta para referirse a lo que es un puñal. Básicamente todas las "dagas" modernas tácticas como el Fairbairn Sykes, el Gerber Mk II son puñales.

[@FreeFencerPhil]

I love my Koeln messer it’s a great fighting weapon

[@raphlvlogs271]

some knives were designed based on swords but there are also some swords that were designed based on existing knives

[@CZOV]

There is much wider variety of knives. From knives being tools in different trades, to hunting and letter opening :)

[@Eulemunin]

Yay

[@machoang3321]

It different

[@bobrobinson1576]

A dagger is designed primarily for dagging i.e. stabbing.

[@elshebactm6769]

🗿👍🏿

[@bl1tz533]

🚬🗿

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

There is a lot of historical context for why the English didnt like people eating w/ weapons. There is historical context for people being slaughtered while they eat & make merry we will say. Lol

[@nothim7321]

Nothing. It's semantics.

[@beepboop204]