September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/5/2023
The Main Gauche (French: lit. "Left Hand") was an offhanded parrying dagger used to deflect enemy strikes with a wide pair of quillons and pierced guard. Tapered 18 - 1/2" blade with a flat back for approximately the first 6" past the ricasso before transforming into a cruciform blade. Flat back is gadrooned. Ricasso has a half-moon with a face in it, similar to other markings recorded out of Germany. Wide 10" quillions with faceted ends. Guard is pierced with designs of florals and birds. Braided copper wire grip is separated into 4 sections with iron wire. Ferrule gadrooned and faceted. CONDITION: Metal has been cleaned in the European fashion to bright metal, with some areas of delamination throughout that speaks to the age of the piece. Some scattered darkness throughout. Copper has some verdigris that does not detract. A good example.