Who Wears Daggers?

Daggers available from todcutler.com/collections/med... and todsworkshop.com/collections/...
Historically different classes of people wore different kinds of daggers and this video is a quick walk through of 5 different 16thC folk and the daggers that would be suited to them.
Many thanks to my fabulous models, in order Danny, Nick, Francis, Ant and Jasper
Filmed on location at Kentwell Hall, 16thC reenactment www.kentwell.co.uk
www.jsayles.com/familypages/ea...

[@tgjaedan]

I wonder if "Eat Cheese or Die" was a medieval version of losing a bet and having to get a bad tattoo today. Bloke finally goes to have his gentleman's sidearm made for him when he has a bit too much to drink, loses a bet at the local pub, and his friends make him get that engraved on his prize new fashion piece. He just never thought his bad bet on the drunk old one armed guy winning the local joust would lead to his poor dagger being found hundreds of years later and then reproduced by the finest smithy of the day.

[@tgjaedan]

@@tods_workshop Hey, sometimes historical objects have a fascinating story showing human ingenuity and our ability to adapt and overcome some amazing things. Other times it just shows that people have always been people. 1000 years from now when someone finds a buried data center and stumbles on a hard drive that still has a bit of data we have the same odds that they stumble on Nyan Cat as something that shows our great strides in medical technology.

[@Barberserk]

@@tods_workshop He talks about it as if it's a bad motto... It's epic! Can we get a view of the original somewhere?

[@edi9892]

I thought of someone giving this dagger to someone that can't afford it and he gets really happy until he sees the inscription...

[@patrickbrett66]

I would definitely hav this as my motto... Squeeeeeeek!

[@inncubus666]

@@edi9892 Yeah a rich friend agrees to buy it for him if he has that engraved on it :)

[@mikefule330]

He's going to stab me with his "Eat cheese or die" dagger. How dairy!

[@mchernett]

Your pun is on point!

[@totherarf]

Did they do an "Eat Cheese And Die!" ....... for the Lactose intolerant?

[@sirwi11iam]

Good pun...bit cheesy but still good...

[@ironpirate8]

Hah! Well who wants to die from-age?

[@totherarf]

@@ironpirate8 ...... better than the alternative ;0)

[@tommeakin1732]

"Eat cheese or die" I can't express how happy it made me to hear that

[@evilcanofdrpepper]

I like a good cave aged Gouda like 1.5-2 years old. I cant stand regular Gouda but once you age it a bit the flavor is completely transformed. I gotta get me some of that cheesy goodness! I feel pity for anyone who is lactose intolerant, what are everyone else's favorite cheeses that they would rather die than live without?

[@racconworkshop5110]

@@evilcanofdrpepper in fact cheese dont hold much lactose, so gouda is not a big deal. i like white irish cheddar the most...

[@whyjay9959]

@@evilcanofdrpepper Haloumi. Fried next to or right after runny-yolked eggs, then placed together in bread.

[@CanalTremocos]

Obviously the motto of the cheese maker's guild.

[@otwk]

"And the cheese... To die for!"

[@jomorim]

Blessed be the cheesemakers.

[@888johnmac]

lol, that was my first thought .. monty python for life

[@TheSaneHatter]

It’s not to be taken *literally* if it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products.

[@jackh5761]

The *Cheesemakers*?

[@jomorim]

@@jackh5761 Monty Python, "Life of Brian".

[@domtoretto1677]

Hallowed by thine curds

[@flukislucas]

“Who wears daggers?” Tod.. Tod wears daggers

[@frankberger7035]

The real question is: Who should wear daggers? And the answer is ofc: Everyone. Everyone should. I'm sure a lot of people would suddenly be way nicer.

[@garethbaus5471]

@@frankberger7035 or bar fights will all go south really quickly.

[@garethbaus5471]

@CrateofStolenDirt or a shield.

[@frankberger7035]

@@garethbaus5471 So you're saying... win win? We told ourselves way too long that we can trick darwin and get the best result for it anyway.

[@frankberger7035]

@Phil M You kind of failing to understand the difference (or being willfully ignorant) between looking at "should" as in "could be nice" and should "this should be the law and everyone will be forced to do it". But the good old saying about sarcasm never seem to fail. When you eat cheese you won't start pissing milk.

[@hot_coldman]

Todd wears 5 daggers, each collected from the corpse of a different man.

[@thinkingmachine354]

Blue Moon A fine addition to my collection!

[@sabo55]

I guess they didn't eat cheese :)

[@fenrirrising131]

There is probably a vegan woman or two in there.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

is he General Grievous now

[@heavens.sorrow]

@@thinkingmachine354 ...you got there first, damnit. Lol.

[@M.M.83-U]

The stiletto can indeed made its way gently and slowly inside people hearts ... or lungs, kidney, liver, throat; as you prefer. And the motto Eat cheese or die is just glorious.

[@camouflet]

So although Shakespeare was a southerner, he knew weapons well enough to give Macbeth a historically and regionally accurate weapon: In his vision of a dagger while on his way to kill Duncan, Macbeth notices that "on thy blade and dudgeon (there are) gouts of blood". That's attention to detail!

[@AndrewSkerritt]

Which was not so before. There’s no such thing. It is the bloody business that informs Thus to mine eyes... (Excellent comment, spot on).

[@Lurklen]

I mean I don't think it would take a great deal of knowledge. It seems impressive to us, but it's no more insightful than you knowing how people dress in another region of your country. These would be Shakespeare's contemporaries, or the ones of his youth/the generation before him, so it just takes knowing your cultural environment. Also, if most people are wearing knives, you're going to notice what they wear, just like any other clothing item. Paying attention to details like this is part of a writer's job, at least when writing contemporary fiction.

[@AndrewSkerritt]

Lurklen that’s undoubtedly so, but it’s nice to be reminded from time to time that Shakespeare’s work was connected to the people. Many writers today would (quite literally) quiver in the presence of a firearm and not know anything about them, which also a sign of the times. I also thought Todd’s point about people “using what they had” was interesting as well. Either way, we are all thinking about the issue, which is often a sign of success in any academic video. Tell me what you would draw from this quote: “Grim visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front”?

[@Lurklen]

@@AndrewSkerritt Oh indeed, my comment wasn't meant to dismiss @commouflet's point, just supply context. On your point about author's, I suppose it's possible some writer's would become terrified simply at the sight of the weapon, though I think if a writer were writing about the subject matter of Macbeth, they may hae a sterner disposition, though of course there are exceptions. Personally I think it's not a bad thing if people have some trepidation around weapons, if the trade off is that we don't live in a society that was so frequently using them against each other, though I think the context of why a writer was looking at a firearm would determine their reaction (I know being shown one by a friend, or seeing one in a museum or store elicits a different reaction from me than seeing one in the hands of a stranger). “Grim visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front...” Hm, without the proper context, to me it would suggest that whatever worries normally bothered this man were eased by being confronted with war. His "wrinkled front" being either his brow, or a wrinkled "front" as in projected/or feigned appearance. Suggesting to me that having a clear target, a single problem to solve, eases his worries and reveals who he really is. However, reading the line in context suggests that War himself, the entity, has relaxed and is enjoying all the frivolity of peace (which our narrator cannot due to his "Rudely stamped" appearance) and if not War, then the Son("sun") of York ascending to the throne, which may be an allusion to the two being similar, as the man in question was said to be impressive in appearance. I'm curious, why do you ask?

[@AndrewSkerritt]

Lurklen “smoothing a wrinkled front” meant getting your breast-plate repaired by the armourer after a battle. Like the “blade and dugeon” quote it tells us a bit about Elizabethan England, where warriors were still wearing breastplates in battle. I thought about this after watching the arrow vs armour video, the point being linking the past to the present. In terms of being afraid of weapons, I must heartily disagree. A weapon is an inanimate object. If you are afraid, merely by being in the presence of an inanimate object then you have a problem. It’s irrational. Do you get frightened of a kitchen knife or a hammer?

[@TL-he7vu]

"Eat cheese or die" is now my new life motto. Thank you Tod.

[@heretyk_1337]

Mine would probably be: "Get out of the shitter!" But this one works too...

[@Misericorde9]

On the stiletto as a status symbol, it also broadcasts that the owner can afford a fancy knife that is, furthermore, completely impractical for most daily tasks lower status individuals would carry a knife for.

[@Taeerom]

I don't think any of these daggers are suitable for much anything than fighting. If you can't afford both a dagger and a knife, you fight with the knife, not work with the dagger. Even the cheap "mass produced" bollock dagger absolutely terrible at carving, eating, or other tasks you may need a knife for.

[@Misericorde9]

Taeerom : The common ballock dagger like the modern Sykes-Fairbairn will not compare well to a dedicated utility knife, but can still be used readily enough to cut cord, put a point on a stake, trim a branch, or gut a fish.

[@Taeerom]

@@Misericorde9 And so can a sword. But you don't see people coming around claiming peasants wore swords because it was more utilitarian than a spear, no do you? My point is that, while it is not completely unusable, its use as an utility object is irrellevant. Carrying (or having it your baggage) a proper knife AND a dagger is always going to be far more useful if you need a knife. No matter your economic or social status. If you are poor, you buy a cheaper dagger, not give up on having a knife in order to afford a more expensie dagger. Or, if you can just afford either a dagger or a knife, a knife is a far better fighting weapon than a dagger is to do any utility work whatsoever. So you forgo your dagger and just keep a knife on your person. In other words, a stilletto does not broadcast that you can afford having a non-utilitarian dagger, because everyone has a non-utilitarian dagger. It is nothing special in any way in that regard. What it is broadcasting, like Tod touches on in the video, is that you are "macaroni", as in, you know and follow Italian fashion. You not only can afford Italian fashion, but you know about it.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

It’s the medieval equivalent of an Ed Hardy shirt, a single to the world that you are a rich twat devoid of taste.

[@daftmell5237]

@@MaxwellAerialPhotography I wouldn't claim that a stiletto is devoid of taste.

[@zebdawson3687]

Having the models display the daggers with clothing that would have fit the type carrying that dagger was a great touch. As always, awesome and informative video, Tod!

[@MrPlankinton]

Except... FOR THE MODERN GLASSES 🤓

[@calamusgladiofortior2814]

16th century engraver: “Ohhhhh... ‘LIVE FREE or die.’ Ha, ha, sorry about that. That makes a lot more sense. I did think ‘Eat cheese or die’ was a little strange...”

[@LuxisAlukard]

0:37 Tod: "Fashion started really in Italy..." 16thC Armani be like "I need a fine stiletto dagger to match this trendy outfit"

[@Loromir17]

@Fight Fly Crow Need Metatron to read it during a video

[@SuperAWaC]

to go with my navy suit for war

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

I would really dig it if there was a designer dagger to go along with a nice suit

[@chuckhainsworth4801]

@Fight Fly Crow which dialect? Any gentlemen worth his salt would recognize the difference between people from Naples, Milan, and Venice by their clothing and weapons. A gentleman of Verona wearing a stiletto from Naples is no gentleman.

[@misterZalli]

Stiletto heels need a matching dagger.

[@martynkalendar]

We really ought to get together as a community and commission someone to make another royalty free medieval background music track

[@gcl2783]

There's AIVA for generating music that you can license and use inexpensively. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYOQhoqhiLmgd7M

[@andreweden9405]

I'd be happy to help! I happen to have a degree in historical performance of early music(specializing in Medieval and Renaissance), and I'm also a HEMA enthusiast. I also happen to own a Tod-made dagger that I love very much!

[@ayebraine]

The attire, its fitting, and how it suits the models is really excellent. It tells in one picture so much more about the context and the feel of a piece as a part of life. I'm not an expert but I suspect the reenaction efforts there are second to none. If you could spare a few words about the clothing and accessories next time (this time I suppose it was the local reenactors and costumes from Kentwell, but you had other examples on your own turf I remember), it would be very interesting.

[@gibbeldon]

"Eat cheese, or die!" Sounds to me like a mum who gave her son a farewell gift. To always remind him to empty his platter to the last bit. "You don't like cheese? Too bad. Eat up, or go to bed hungry."

[@pastormaldonator9687]

5:47 That´s the way that gauchos normally wear their Facones (Facon) here in Argentina. Nice video thanks for sharing.

[@commonpepe2270]

'two pins, which go through the balls' great, now i have that image in my mind...

[@LuxisAlukard]

I felt that...

[@TheLoxxxton]

Lol. I'm a grown ass man with a real interest in history but couldn't help a giggle when todd starts talking bollocks and balls

[@beeble2003]

I think that one should definitely be called a "boob dagger".

[@Cryogenius333]

@@TheLoxxxton Thats why its called a Bollock dagger XD What you thought its cuz the guy who invented it was named Bollock? HA

[@cardboardbox191]

@@Cryogenius333 I don't know if your joking or not.

[@joelkelly169]

Hello Tod from the Southern USA, love your content. I wear some form of working knife every day on my belt. It is often a fixed blade, but sometimes a locking style knife. I work with my hands, and use my knife several times a day. The wearing and use of a knife is far from dead as some people seem to think it should be. Thank you for your channel and it's content. When it is all said and done a blade is much the same as it was in the days long ago.

[@seandahl8441]

Amazing clothes and beautiful daggers

[@duchi882]

I see you invested a lot of Stat points in the Finesse Skill Tree

[@elgostine]

i think Tod, (and marshall historical i admit) for reinforcing a fondness for daggers and knives that i didnt have previously the fact you can get this lovely blade and hilt for a fraction of what a sword of similar quality would cost is a comfort for someone on a budget

[@cryoshakespeare4465]

I never pay attention to or regard these types of comments, but I do distinctly see 1.3k likes and 0 dislikes, and on a video with about 7.7k views. That well exceeds the typical less than 1/10th like-to-view ratio you usually see. And I feel it really is justified, your videos are pure simplistic education, and of the showing and not telling kind, of the highest legitimacy and caliber. How can you not love this? Methinks of Knyght Errant. Cheers for the excellent video!

[@otwk]

5:03 Sheogorath approves.

[@shadowabsol]

Only True Witch-King I was thinking the same damn thing. Truly a weapon for the prince of madness

[@silmarilasmr6801]

The piece about the stiletto was very interesting.

[@knightshousegames]

The 16th century is probably my favorite era for arms and armor. Pretty much everything was in play at that point, from leftovers from the hundred years war to firearms, and armor was at it's peak, with the Milanese and Gothic armors, which looked amazing. Just so many different types of weird and interesting weapons existed together at the same time. I feel like form and function blended perfectly in this era, everything was amazingly functional, and looked great too. This video is a pretty fine example of what I mean, you have the quillon and bullock daggers still in use, time tested designs, and the left hand dagger and stiletto, brand new designs which serve very specific purposes in combat, while also looking amazing. It's interesting, because in Italy in particular, you had such extremes for brawling sidearms, with the extremely small and skinny stiletto, and the big beefy cinquedea, such opposite weapons from the same place from the same time.

[@blairbuskirk5460]

People wear daggers, imagine how ridiculous a duck would look wearing a dagger?

[@burgeryoufoundbehindthegrill]

A duck with a ballock dagger engraved with "Eat Cheese or Die."

[@Cryogenius333]

I've seen some very dapper mice of the period wearing such implements

[@voiceofraisin3778]

@@Cryogenius333 The Kings mouseketeers were disbanded shortly after Capitaine Jerry retired..

[@voiceofraisin3778]

Yes, a medievill duck would be better armed with a well sharpened bill!

[@danilotodeschini6777]

A duck would be silly, but a snail or a rabbit with hardware was totally acceptable

[@FixedWing82]

I want a t-shirt that says "Eat cheese or die"

[@gabesouthwell2415]

Or a dagger

[@OrmTostesson]

there is a link in the description

[@mchernett]

shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/todsworkshop/

[@heretyk_1337]

@@OrmTostesson The bandana for the dog killed me...

[@RamseyDewey]

Super interesting!

[@TristanBehrens]

Didn't expect to see you here

[@arghjayem]

Love your videos. Would be great to see one about the Scottish dirk and the sgian dubh.

[@yarugatyger1603]

I'm learning to become a concept artist and I found this video really helpful and interesting especially that you stated which daggers would go with which social class and what they say about the wearer, it helps me stay historically correct and allows me to pass that knowledge on to peers and less informed artists, thank you.

[@dadegroot]

It was indeed interesting. What would be a good followup, is a selection of basic utility knives from the period. The sort of thing an everyday person might carry. A dagger always has that element of meance to it.

[@jameswoodard4304]

Well, I'm very glad to see this video back under the proper name. Congrats on being back in the driver's seat.

[@MrDiggy96]

would love a part 2 to this episode!!

[@chiuhungwong4460]

I find these kind of videos refreshing. Not always sword, armour or katana. I can learn something, too, by the way you put the objects to their historic and social context. Nice video overall.

[@WallytheAussie]

Fantastic, as usual, Tod. Thank you.

[@Subcomandante73]

Just found these vids (thanks random YT suggestion) and really enjoying them.

[@johnny6171]

My family is from Yorkshire I really enjoyed your podcast! A podcast was instructional and inspired me to do more research. Thank you!

[@asambi69]

Love these videos, always fantastic to watch.

[@Br1cht]

You're my favorite KZbin channel, always info dense and entertaining.

[@GiantBUThead]

Great video as always, love these ones where you're all dressed up and sit in the forest, gives them a certain comfy feel. Keep it up, i'd love to see more like this in the future.

[@lhagiduty]

Your videos are getting better and better. It just sets the relaxed medieval mood in my home after my workday. Thank you!

[@FlinnGaidin]

Great video and incredible craftsmanship as always.

[@kieronbevan7489]

Some beautiful bits of metal there

[@lubossoltes321]

Interesting ? AWESOME and AMAZING ... not just the craftsmanship but the historical background as well ...

[@keithwelch7433]

I would just like to say that I start a lot of my days by watching one of your videos. I find them to be very well done, interesting, and fun. Keep up the great work Todd.

[@OnTheRiver66]

Very interesting and all those are just beautifully made.

[@cromabu5090]

Oh damn, I have that stiletto from your workshop, love it works wonders.

[@Unlitedsoul]

I love this channel, and how it brings up odd little topics that I hadn't thought of but turn out to be fairly important from a history basis. Thank you, Tod, for all you do for the fantasy and history geeks out here!

[@danilotodeschini6777]

Thanks and glad to help

[@mrhotbox6811]

A very interesting and informative video. And as always, your craftmanship is stunning! I really hope there'll be another video about daggers soon.

[@michaelj132]

This was really interesting. I would like to see this kind of video across a range of different weapon types and times. It is a great way to convey a huge amount of information about the time period.

[@gerwantofrivera3725]

Oi! You got loicense for that dagga?

[@b33lze6u6]

Oi you got a loicence for dat daggah loicence ?!

[@HarvestMoonHowl]

Nah guardsman, but I do have a loicence for this big mace I like ta lug aroun'. Well bollocks...it seems like the Baron's brat o' a son wants it, now. I never seen him at market on the Saturdays, before...

[@heretyk_1337]

@@HarvestMoonHowl Oh, yer right... It`s `im a`ight.... Shite...

[@k.s.3748]

Don't need one I live in Texas.

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

@@b33lze6u6 bloody hell, beat me to it. ^.-.^

[@MilledSteel]

Great stuff as usual Todd, enjoy these historic discussions

[@johnny6171]

Hi listen to your podcast several times and took notes.

[@divinesoul23]

Loved this video! Very educational.

[@stevegrieb6596]

As always, good, clear, direct to the point commentary. I also liked Easton's follow up.

[@GGorsty]

I came across your video via my youtube-recommend - as first i was hesitant to click, but after a bit of sitting down and watching, you have captivated my attention. Thank you for this neat little video.

[@Smallathe]

Fascinating video. Thanks for sharing!

[@wimsele]

As usual very interesting and informatiive! Thank you Mr. Tod

[@ericjohnson6784]

Thank you , great video and music

[@razorslice99]

I love the history lesson. Thank you.

[@russiannavy1108]

Just ordered a knights dagger and a stelleto from your site. I love the work and history you live and portray!

[@thejamaican67]

Really fascinating

[@patrickrobinson-mh5jw]

Very interesting upload used to love those weekends in that garb thank you

[@PavlosPapageorgiou]

Your models were awesome

[@darkranger116]

Brilliant video

[@DonatoVicenti]

Thank you Tod, this was extremely interesting!

[@cam-inf-4w5]

Great video. Fine daggers and pistols i think are some of the highest works of art in the world.

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

The knives are cool and all...but those outfits! As a dude, I would love to have an occasion to dress like that!

[@anthonyjennis3332]

Awesome, amazing the history behind the different designs and the Folk it wouls have appealed to :)

[@LairdErnst]

Informative. Great work!

[@AndrewSkerritt]

Thank you Todd! Great video, very informative.

[@Unethrorpe]

Great outfitting and, of course, daggers.

[@stevec.8904]

Fantastic video. You Sir are a gentleman and a scholar.

[@Eulemunin]

Nice models, good to see proper gentlemen and good men about.

[@0num4]

2019: "Eat Cheese And Die" 2020: "Eat Cheese Or Die" Let's ring it in proper, folks.

[@malahamavet]

1519: "eat cheese or die"

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

Death to cheese eaters!

[@elliotwhite32]

I love these dagger videos. I learn so much

[@2adamast]

And now picking up a dagger has also become an existential choice.

[@nathansims8809]

You can tell how good the content is when the video gets 3k views but no dislikes

[@marclarsen8030]

The daggers are cool by themselves, but i love seeing them with the outfits of the people likely to wear them. Especially the common man outfits

[@jamesbruce1975]

If "Eat Cheese or Die!" doesn't become the battlecry of the Living History and HEMA community, then I don't know what we're doing this for.

[@johncrowerdoe5527]

It's probably the dagger of Ben Gunn, famed resident of Treasure Island.

[@keithwortelhock6078]

Very interesting. Thank you!

[@Helliconia54]

another informative video.Thank you

[@marygebbie6611]

very educational! thank you, sir!

[@snafu2350]

Glad to have you back Tod, after the hijack :( :) My take on the 3- or 4-edged stiletto is that it's designed as a fighting dagger vs chainmail-armoured soldiers (or possibly city guardsmen/nobles wearing chain undershirts), perhaps related to the misericord? It certainly has no use as a utility knife, whether or not it's hollow-ground.. hence it's more likely to be an assassin's weapon. IIRC the period you mention was also the time of Machiavelli & the Medici families in the HRE, lending some credence to this supposition given their predisposition for 'underhand' (hah - another reference!) tactics WRT power gain & retention..

[@Leftyotism]

Great video! 🙂

[@orjangrindborg3867]

These movie clips are great Tod! I'd like to hear more about other dagger types as well, especially the bauernwher.

[@mikemcginley6309]

Great video

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

Many thanks for the history lesson!

[@moottori_paa]

Thank you, that was very interesting!

[@flatcapfiddle]

I viseted Kentwell Hall on a school trip as a child. We got all dressed up in the garb everyone was in Renaissance character it was an amazing and immersive expirience.

[@ratroddiesels1981]

the period apparel is nice too , plus the early music .

[@markdoblekar2093]

Great video. Very informative. Keep up the good work.

[@jamessmith4400]

Fascinating as always. Have you ever considered presenting a history programme for the BBC? I, sadly, have no influence on tv, being a lorry driver, but you do make history cool. It’s a shame you weren’t my history teacher at school, but I doubt even you could make the poor law & the spinning Jenny interesting. Amazing work Tod👍

[@jasonleedham5678]

Cheers Tod, another interesting, and all too brief dip into historical daggers, I was waiting for some explanation regarding the various blade types. As an aside i have just watched a "Time Team" regarding a medieval furnace, how they made such beautiful items from such crude technology is a constant wonder to me.

[@wolfgirl535]

Super useful information, love this stuff!

[@chedruid]

Excellent content

[@the_mystery_of_stonehenge]

Very nice. Love my daggers. The impact plate serves as a blade halt during knife combat otherwise the opponent's blade slides down yours, slices right through the wood and into your hand. The flat-back design is great giving craftsman options and ability for all sorts of food creation. Even shave with it.

[@patdossenko1820]

thank you. great video

[@discochoir]

Great vid. You really present this information in an entertaining way. :)