Daggers and Knives--also Dirks.

Daggers have a size limit (dunno what it is) and HAVE to have a pointed tip. The main distinction for me has always been in the tip. Daggers are for stabbing (not cutting) so the tip is a must have.

When stabbing when out of style maybe the ornamental factor came into play but it certainly wasn't a criteria in teh past.

I dunno. A dagger is always a weapor - or a representation of a weapon, anyway. A knife can be a weapon or tool. A dirk is a specialize dagger design, with no hilt and a tapered handle. Dirks have become more or less formal uniform accessories in the past hundred years.

The terms are all classifications within the category of 'knives". A dagger is just a knife with a pointed tip intended for stabbing (as Craven said..).

A Dirk is a type of Dagger developed and used by the Scottish Highlanders and it has a relatively long blade.

A Stilletteo is another type of dagger but it's distinction is that width of the blade tapers continously from the hilt to the point.

A Bodkin is also a dagger but it is very slender through the full length of the blade. Sort of like a short knitting needle with a hilt. (The "bare bodkin" Shakespeare was referring to was just an unsheathed bodkin from what I can find on the Web.)

Thank you, gentlemen.

The local chaos level is rising and my thoughts will now be accurate as well as bloody and unnatural.

Ya' know? I'm actually coming to appreciate the targeted advertising around here!

A dagger is designed for thrusting (jab), a knife for cutting (slash)

Does nobody else want to know just why Noddy is asking? Is there to be blood on the carpet in A2k?

Given her avatar, I assumed she is simply expanding her range of options.

Safecracker is writing a book about burglery tools; Noddy is . . . . Hmm, what is she up to?

Gibbers nervously....

This is all a bit frightening.

Enough of this jabbing and poking! When do we get to the hacking blades???

Not one mention of the beloved machete?

The times are out of joint. Oh, cursed spite
That I was ever born to set things right.

The Uzi goes bangbangbangbangbang

So noisy.

cleavers are under-estimated

Daggers always have two edges.
Most of them have a point although there are some types with strange tip arrangement.

Knives usually only have a single edge and can fold, lock etc...

There are all kinds of other ones like Poinards which are very slim and have 4 edges in a cross form. They're designed for going straight through chainmail to where they do the most damage : inside the body of the opponent.

I collect knives and daggers. I guess I just love sharp things.

Helio! Long time no see.

I'd wondered about the dual edge as a criteria but was not sure.

Hey, there's a knife/sword (from the S Pacific?) called a kris - my name!

Heliotrope--

I've read of poinards, but can't visualize four sharp sides. Can you explain?

Obviously your love of sharp things includes your intellect.