Night Watch Owl Main-Gauche Parrying Dagger

Product Description for Night Watch Owl Main-Gauche Parrying Dagger

Maker: Andrew Meers, M.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 98279
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 11.90 in.
Cutting edge length: 9.80 in.
Total length: 18.00 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.10 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.27 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.23 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.06 in.
Item weight: 25.20 oz.
Blade: Multi-bar damascus forged to shape from 1080 and 15N20 carbon steels
Bolster: Octagonal quillion forged from twisted damascus
Handle: Hand fluted kingwood with sterling silver twisted wire
Description: Mastersmith Andrew Meers is a talented knifemaker originally from Boston, where he studied under Mastersmith JD Smith. Andrew received his MFA in Blacksmithing/Metalsmithing at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and received a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. A 2014 SNAG Early Career Artist Presenter, he has also been an instructor at the Penland School of Arts and Crafts, where he is currently a resident artist. Andrew won the Makers' Choice and Best of Show awards at the 2015 BladeGallery International Knife Show. A former Artist in Residence at The National Ornamental Metal Museum, he earned his Mastersmith certification from the American Bladesmithing Society in 2015. Andrew was the recipient of the B.R Hughes Award, given for the top piece submitted by a Mastersmith candidate. He is an artist that inspires many other knifemakers.
The main-gauche (French for "left hand") was used mainly to assist in parrying incoming thrusts, while the dominant hand wielded a rapier or similar longer weapon intended for one-handed use. The parrying dagger was in great use from the European late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, but fell out of favor as sword fighting evolved into the modern sport of fencing.
Mastersmith Andrew Meers' Night Watch Owl Main-Gauche Parrying Dagger is an exceptional example of his work. The long blade combines three separate bars of Andrew's hand forged damascus. Twisted Ws pattern edge bars surround a Ws pattern central bar, forming an elegant blade with exceptional edge holding and beauty. Both sides feature a central fuller and flat ground bevels.The extended ricasso features two piercings and a thumb rest. Copper is set into the opposite side of the thumb rest. This is inlaid with black patinaed shakudo (a traditional Japanese alloy combining 4% gold with 95% copper) in the shape of an owl soaring through the sky.
A central column of kingwood. A true rosewood, kingwood is harvested from a small tree called Dalbergia Cearensis that is restricted to a small area in Brazil. Extremely rare, kingwood was famous for being used in the finest furniture in the world during the 17th century that was often only sold to royalty. The dramatic wood was meticulously hand fluted and set with sterling silver twisted wire.
The octagonal quillion was forged from Meers' own twist pattern damascus. The basket was forged from mild steel. The top of the basket features an inlaid and engraved owl. The wings and tail are formed from patinaed copper. The face, body and feet are inlaid in fine silver. The eyes are formed from shakudo. The talons and nose are inlaid in 24k gold. The base of the basket features a shuddering mouse, hiding from the owl. The mouse's body is formed from fine silver. The tail and hands are formed from antiqued copper. The eyes are inlaid in 24kt gold. Both the owl and mouse are meticulously engraved to create a tremendous sense of life. The handle is completed with a Ws pattern damascus octagonal pommel, forged from 1080 and 15N20 carbon steels.
This Main-Gauche is among the most impressive pieces to ever be featured on BladeGallery and is among Andrew Meers' master works.


Availability: Not currently available