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Ballock Knife

late 15th century
Not on view
The ballock knife, also referred to as a kidney dagger, was widely used in the later Middle Ages, in both civilian and military contexts. In Talhoffer's Fechtbuch it is shown in use by armored combatants to deliver a coup de grâce, and in the section devoted to unarmored knife fighting.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ballock Knife
  • Date: late 15th century
  • Culture: possibly French or German
  • Medium: Steel, wood, lead
  • Dimensions: L. 14 5/16 in. (36.3 cm); L. of blade 9 5/16 in. (23.7 cm); W. 2 in. (5.1 cm); W. of blade 13/16 in. (2.1 cm); thickness of blade 7/16 in. (1.1 cm); Wt. 8 oz. (226.8 g)
  • Classification: Daggers
  • Credit Line: Gift of Jean Jacques Reubell, in memory of his mother, Julia C. Coster, and of his wife, Adeline E. Post, both of New York City, 1926
  • Object Number: 26.145.10
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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