| Daggers initially came into use as a simple utility | | | | giving the mercy stroke to comrades too |
| item. Everyone had one, everyone needed one to | | | | wounded to survive. This dagger could also be |
| use in daily tasks. Later, the dagger progressed | | | | used to threaten the wounded knights into |
| into becoming a sidearm used in battle by knights | | | | surrendering rather than submitting to death. |
| and warriors. It wasn't until this time that daggers | | | | Stiletto daggers were also used during the early |
| began to get a sinister reputation. This reputation | | | | renaissance period in the same way - stabbing |
| came from the fact that daggers were small | | | | through chain mail and through the gaps of plate |
| weapons that could easily be concealed and used | | | | armor. These too contributed to the "shady" |
| to surprise an enemy in close quarters. | | | | reputation of daggers as they were often used |
| There were many different styles of daggers in | | | | by assassins due to the ease of hiding the thin |
| use during the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance | | | | dagger. |
| periods. Two that seemed to influence popular | | | | Because of the way these daggers were crafted, |
| concepts of daggers were the Rondel and the | | | | their usage was limited to stabbing during combat |
| Stiletto daggers. The rondel dagger blade was | | | | rather than slashing like most swords. This made |
| typically long and slim, with a round disk forming | | | | it apparent how a man was killed in battle, if it be |
| its hand guard and pommel. A stiletto dagger | | | | by a sword or dagger. Death by dagger was not |
| blade is long and thin, narrowing down to a point. | | | | an honorable death, as just about everyone |
| Rondel daggers heightened the 'shady' reputation | | | | carried a dagger be it peasant or nobleman. |
| of daggers also during medieval times. | | | | A dagger's reputation is questionable, just like any |
| They were ideal in battle for puncturing through | | | | other weapon. If it is used with nefarious intent it |
| the chain links in chainmail but were not strong | | | | surely is a "shady" weapon. It is the hand of the |
| enough to go through plate mail armor. Because | | | | wielder that dictates whether the weapon be |
| of this lack of strength they were often used to | | | | used for defense, offense, or murderous intent. |
| dispatch downed knights by being forced between | | | | In this case it's not the dagger that kills, but the |
| the joints in a suit of armor and the helmet, thus | | | | hand that wields it. |
| killing the knight. This could be done honorably - | | | | |