Wood Grip Main Gauche

Description of the Product

This stylish Wood Grip Main Gauche is a matching left-hand dagger for the Wood Grip Rapier, a 17th century swept-hilt rapier popular during the renaissance. A Main Gauche was often used together with a rapier. It provided an added dimension in both offense and defense, and many fencing schools in Europe during the 1600’s taught the two weapons in combination. The Main Gauche would often match its rapier in style, but attention was naturally also paid to enhancing its effectiveness and functionality. The fencing schools were often centered on a renowned master. Those masters who produced illuminated manuscripts detailing and teaching their skills, have survived to our day and their art is still alive.

Salvatore Fabris, Nicoletto Giganti and Capo Ferro were 17th C. Italian fencing masters who wrote books about the use of the rapier as well as the rapier with a dagger. These masters taught in courts all over Europe, and as such their lives became entwined with the political and historical upheavals of their day. Working in the Polish court of King Sigismund, in 1594 Salvatore Fabris nearly changed Swedish, and Finnish, history. Sigismund and Duke Karl, the warring brother and son of the now-dead king Johan III were negotiating in Uppsala after the funeral over the contested kingship. As most aristocrats, both men were accustomed to Italian entertainment, so a plot was hatched which involved costumed Italians, including a masqueraded Salvatore Fabris, performing an elaborate sword dance with drawn rapiers. Duke Karl was, however, forewarned that the performance was plotted to end in a real tragedy: his death by Fabris’ rapier. Having already dodged a previous assassination attempt by his uncle Sigismund, Karl did not attend the banquet. After years of civil war, e.g. the Cudgel War (Nuijasota) in Finland, Duke Karl was finally victorious and became King Karl IX, and father of the Lion of the North, Gustavus II Adolphus. Salvatore Fabris also survived the banquet, went on to work as a highly sought-after fencing teacher in several royal courts all over Europe, and to write his influential fencing manuscripts later in his life.

The Wood Grip Main Gauche features a blade of high-carbon steel which has been tempered, and a stainless steel hilt for reduced maintenance. The grip is hardwood. If needed, the blade is interchangeable with a blunt practical blade, designed for safety during sparring. Comes with a scabbard with black leather wrap and steel accents.

Made by Hanwei. Specs may slightly vary from piece to piece.