ABSTRACT
Although primarily a defensive weapon, the dagger can be used quite effectively for offense as well. The great debate concerning cut or thrust, however, doesn't really affect the use of the dagger. Prior to the introduction of the parrying dagger, knives were generally held in a reverse grip, with the blade below the hand, and were used for stabbing. The parrying dagger is one of the first instances of the blade being held above the hand (like a sword), but its primary function was still to stab. Most treatises concerning the use of the dagger have some reference to its use as an offensive weapon, but very few of them make use of the edge for cutting. In fact, more manuals make reference to throwing the dagger at the opponent than cutting them with it. di Grassi tells his readers to ''fling the dagger in deede at the enemies face," and Joseph Swetnam offers similar advice to a combatant who has lost their rapier, suggesting they "take thy dagger by the point, and make offer to throw it, for that will so dare thine enemy, that he will stand until thou hast taken up thy weapon again. "2 Be that as it may, in the theatre the dagger may well be used in close measure as an offensive weapon to both cut and thrust, but it is seldom thrown.
