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DAY 1: Historic Arms & Armor: Revolutionary America

Sat, Jul 18, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-07-18 11:00:00 2026-07-18 11:00:00 America/New_York Treasure Trove Treasure Trove : DAY 1: Historic Arms & Armor: Revolutionary America https://live.treasuretroveauctions.com/auctions/treasure-trove/day-1-historic-arms-armor-revolutionary-america-23506
Treasure Trove Auctions proudly presents Day 1 of our premier militaria event, featuring an extraordinary selection of historic American arms and relics, including some of the finest documented Revolutionary War material we have encountered, significant Civil War artifacts, American Indian pieces, and frontier-era history. Complementing this remarkable offering is our signature selection of medieval, Renaissance, and antique arms & armor, creating a truly exceptional sale spanning centuries of warfare. Now is your chance to acquire tangible history from all eras of military history!
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Lot 403

Museum Quality European 17th C Left-Hand Main Gauche Dagger w/ Ring Guard, Wire Grip & Fluted Pommel

Starting Bid
$500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$100 $50
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000

This exceptional European 17th century left-hand dagger, or main gauche, is a superbly constructed and remarkably well-preserved example of the classic parrying dagger carried alongside the rapier during the golden age of European swordsmanship. The dagger features a long, stout thrusting blade of strong triangular or flattened diamond form, with deep linear fullering and sharply defined raised ribs running along the blade. The blade tapers to a powerful point and retains an impressive bright surface with scattered age speckling, handling marks, and honest patina. The overall preservation is outstanding for a 17th century fighting dagger, giving the piece the kind of clean, high-grade presentation sought by advanced collectors.

The hilt is especially attractive and demonstrates the refined design language of the rapier period. It is fitted with a polished steel guard with long, gracefully swept quillons that curve outward and terminate in squared ends, creating both elegance and defensive utility. A prominent circular side ring rises from the guard, allowing the dagger to catch, deflect, and control an opponent's blade during close fencing exchanges. The grip is tightly wrapped in dark cord or wire with diagonal twisted bands, producing a textured and highly functional hold. The pommel is a beautifully formed fluted bulb or ovoid type, with rounded lobes and a small terminal button, adding strong sculptural quality to the hilt while balancing the weapon beautifully in the hand.

The main gauche, meaning "left hand," was one of the most important companion weapons of the 16th and 17th centuries. It was carried in the off hand with a rapier and used to parry, bind, trap, or deflect an opponent's blade while the sword hand delivered the decisive thrust. In skilled hands, the left-hand dagger was not merely defensive, but an essential part of an aggressive and highly technical fencing system. The side ring, swept quillons, reinforced point, and stout blade all reflect a weapon designed for serious use, combining thrusting power, blade control, and close-quarter protection.

This dagger stands out for its excellent proportions, near-mint visual presentation for its age, superb guard form, tight grip wrap, fluted pommel, and beautifully preserved blade architecture. It is the kind of refined yet functional 17th century weapon that appeals to the most discriminating collectors of European arms. Elegant, deadly, and historically important, this is a fantastic offering for collectors of Renaissance and Baroque arms, rapier-period fencing weapons, main gauche daggers, European edged weapons, and museum-quality early arms and armor. We strongly encourage bidders to review all images closely to appreciate the blade fullering, ring guard, swept quillons, grip wrap, pommel form, and exceptional overall preservation of this rare dagger.

★ ★ ★ ★
Very Good/Fine - Shows light to moderate wear, may have minor imperfections. A very fine example of the collectible. May also be labelled as Collector Quality.

 

Condition assessed using Treasure Trove Auctions’ proprietary grading scale. While we strive for accuracy, all ratings are subjective and based on our best evaluation as determined by a dedicated team of researchers, from expert appraisers to knowledgeable historians and veteran collectors. Full grading details can be found on our Authentication page for reference. For a more in-depth condition report or additional images, please contact us and we will be more than happy to oblige.

 

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