Testicular Daggers and Ballock Daggers: History, Design, and Use Explained

A name that sparks curiosity and a design that forged an era

The testicular dagger —also known in Anglo-Saxon tradition as ballock dagger or in more decorous settings as dudgeon or “kidney dagger”— is an object that catches the eye and the imagination. Why did a piece of carved wood and a narrow blade manage to cross centuries of armed and social history? In this article, you will discover its origin, its technical and cultural evolution, and the reasons why its silhouette remains recognizable today.

What you will learn in this text

I will guide you through a narrative that blends military history, weapon design, and social uses. You will learn:

• How and why the testicular dagger emerged in the Late Middle Ages.
• What makes it unique from a morphological and functional point of view.
• Its role in combat and daily life from the 13th to the 17th century.
• How to identify variants and what archaeological sources tell us.
• A detailed chronology that outlines the essential milestones in its evolution.

Form is everything: anatomy of the dagger

The first time you see a testicular dagger, what remains in your memory is not the blade, but the pommel. Usually carved from a single piece of wood —often boxwood, also known as dudgeon— it features two lateral lobes that, without subtlety, resemble male anatomy. This pommel is not an aesthetic whim: it is an ergonomic and protective solution.

Main components:

• Handle: a single, ergonomic piece, with two protuberances that act as finger guards.
• Blade: straight, narrow, with a section often triangular or lenticular, designed for piercing. Many are double-edged to maximize effectiveness when attacking armored surfaces.
• Guard and pommel: from simple wooden extensions to ornamented metal pieces depending on social rank.

Function in combat: why the point rules

The blade, thin and sharp at the bevel, is not intended to cut like a long sword. Its mission is different: to explore crevices, find flaws in armor, and produce deep, localized wounds. In war, the testicular dagger was the tool for close-quarters combat, for the precise blow between plates or through chainmail.

The ergonomic design of the pommel provided excellent control for precise thrusts and allowed the attacker to hold the weapon firmly without it slipping during sudden movements. In the hands of a veteran, the testicular dagger could decide the course of a duel or the conclusion of a fierce struggle.

History of the testicular dagger over time

Below you will find a clear and visual chronology that outlines the main milestones in the life of this dagger. Mentally place it after the first sight of the weapon: its genesis at the turn of the centuries, its apogee as a military tool, and its transition to a social symbol.

Era	Event
Late 13th – early 14th century
Appearance	The testicular dagger emerges in Europe (especially in England, Flanders, and Scotland). It is considered one of the five prototypical types of medieval daggers. The oldest securely dated examples are from the early 14th century; it appears in continental effigies around 1300–1350. It had a military heyday between the 13th and 14th centuries as a close-combat weapon.
Mid-14th century
Dated example	The funerary effigy of Sir Peter De Grandison (dated 1358) depicts a testicular dagger. During this period, conical hilts were typical.
Late 14th – 15th century
Civilian weapon and fashion	The dagger became a weapon of the people and a fashion accessory; 15th-century men wore it at the front of their belts. Illustrations such as Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry show the dagger as a clothing complement. Towards the end of the 15th century, the best daggers were imported from German centers like Passau, Nuremberg, and Solingen. Dated examples include the piece from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Moesgård dagger.
Early 16th century
Continuity and regulation	The type continued in use with minor stylistic modifications. An example from the London Museum is dated around 1520. In 1517, the Cutlers’ Company of London regulated the marks of dagger manufacturers.
16th – 17th centuries
Materials and names	The handle was frequently made of boxwood (dudgeon), giving rise to names like “dudgeon dagger.” During the Renaissance, the dagger gained popularity among the nobility and high society as a symbol of wealth.
17th century
Decline and evolution	The presence of the dagger began to diminish in European society, although its basic form persisted in some areas and evolved into the Scottish dirk.
13th – 18th centuries
Distribution	The testicular dagger was popular in Scandinavia, Flanders, Wales, Scotland, and England, especially during the Tudor and Stuart periods.
Victorian Era
Naming	For decorum, historians began to call it a “kidney dagger.”
19th century
Survival	Although less common, the basic form still persisted in variants during the 19th century.
Trajectory
Result	The testicular dagger stands out as one of the types of medieval daggers with one of the most extensive periods of use in Europe, adapting from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age.

Variants and materials: from wood to metal

Although the basic form remains, the testicular dagger presents variations that speak to the social context of the wearer. In its most humble version, the handle is a single piece of boxwood; in lordly versions, handles appear in bronze, silver, or gold, with engravings and inlaid stones.

The blade varies in thickness and cross-section according to the era and purpose. We have seen short and powerful blades, and longer and thinner blades. To help you compare, here is a summary table with typical technical parameters:

Characteristic	Usual Range	Notes
Blade length	19–35 cm	Examples like the Moesgård dagger show shorter blades; others reached 30–35 cm.
Handle material	Boxwood, root wood, bronze, silver	Boxwood (dudgeon) was prized for its density and beauty when carved.
Blade cross-section	Triangular or lenticular	Triangular section optimized for piercing; lenticular for a certain compromise between cutting and thrusting.
Primary usage	Piercing / utility	From close combat to daily tool.

Social context: weapon and adornment

The testicular dagger was not merely a weapon; it was a garment. Like personal cutlery or a well-crafted belt, the dagger spoke of its wearer’s identity. Among merchants and nobles, the most elaborate daggers served as a status marker. For peasants or lower-ranking soldiers, they fulfilled a utilitarian function without ornamentation.

As fashion evolved, daggers became part of formal attire. Certain portraits and effigies show luxuriously decorated daggers alongside fine garments, a combination of beauty and contained threat.

Finding and dating a dagger: practical keys

For the collector or enthusiast of material history, identifying a testicular dagger requires observing several details:

• Handle type: Is it a single carved piece or does it have metal fittings?
• Patina and grain: boxwood shows distinct grain and aging compared to metal; metal’s patina can indicate centuries of circumstances.
• Blade cross-section: triangular for piercing; lenticular for mixed versions.
• Proportions: the relationship between blade length and handle helps to place it chronologically.

Furthermore, the archaeological context—if the piece comes from a known stratum, a funerary assemblage, or a peat bog recovery—is crucial for reliable dating. Many daggers arrive in collections without this information, and their typology and comparison with dated pieces then become the primary tools for dating them.

Daily use: more than a weapon

In addition to its military function, the testicular dagger was used for domestic tasks. Cutting rope, peeling, carving, and other daily chores turned some daggers into multi-purpose utensils. In certain Renaissance table settings, knives and awls accompanying the dagger have been documented, evidencing its role as an indispensable personal tool.

From the street to the salon: symbolic transformation

When the dagger transitioned from an exclusively military weapon to a fashion object, its decoration intensified. Handles with inlays, engravings of heraldic motifs, and elaborate scabbards showed economic investment and taste. This mutation explains why today we find pieces with an evident aesthetic intention rather than a practical one.

Legacy and descendants

Although its presence waned from the 17th century onwards, the silhouette of the testicular dagger left its mark. The Scottish dirk, for example, shares ergonomic roots and a continuity in the blade-handle relationship. Museum collections and modern reproductions keep the morphology and tradition of this design alive.

Frequently asked questions among collectors and re-enactors

The following are answers, with the authority of historical sources, to some common questions:

• Why was the name changed to “kidney dagger”? Due to propriety rules of later eras (19th century Victorian), the original term was considered vulgar and was revised to avoid phallic connotations.
• Are they dangerous for historical reproduction? Replicas can be functional, but their use in re-enactment must comply with safety standards: controlled sharpening, protective sheath, and supervised handling.
• How to distinguish a reproduction from an original? The presence of modern marks, the uniformity of manufacture, and the lack of patina or historical wear are clues to identify reproductions.

Material sources and examples

Pieces of interest in European collections illustrate the variety: the example dated in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Moesgård dagger, or pieces recovered from Nordic contexts. These daggers serve as typological references and inspiration for restorers and artisans who today reproduce these forms.

Brief recommendation for conservators: preserve the wood in stable humidity conditions and avoid aggressive treatments that could darken the original grain; always document the context of origin.

One last look before sheathing the dagger

The testicular dagger is a piece that combines ingenuity and aesthetics. From its practical conception for piercing armor to its transformation into a social emblem, its journey reveals the interaction between technology, fashion, and symbolism. Looking at a carved handle is glimpsing the artisan’s hand and the wearer’s life: it condenses the needs, techniques, and desires of an era.

If you appreciate material history, look for the details: the grain of the boxwood, the cross-section of the blade, the patina of the metal; these features tell stories that texts do not always record.

To take away: the testicular dagger is a design lesson: a seemingly simple form that solves ergonomic controls, hand protection, and combat effectiveness. This effective simplicity explains its longevity and its ability to evoke an era every time we contemplate it.

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