Main Gauche

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The main gauche was a dagger developed in conjunction with the rapier during 16th and 17th century Europe. It is a left handed dagger used as a defensive weapon to parry and block an opponent’s weapon. The main gauche was double edged with a sturdy crossbar to protect the hand. The knuckleguard in the most highly developed main gauches was triangular in shape and often lavishly engraved. Some versions of the main gauche had devices built into the blades to catch and even break an opponent’s blade. The German main gauche had two blades which sprang away from the center blade at 30 degree angles upon depressing a lever in the guard. These pronged blades could catch and break a blade as well as inflict greater damage to the opponent when the opportunity to strike with the left hand arose. Pictured here are various examples of the most popular main gauche styles.