PMCI - March - 2020

pmcimagazine.com
BLADES: SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER
SPARTAN HARSEY DAGGER
Throughout history, the dagger has managed to transcend its humble origins as a medieval belt knife to
become symbolic and sacred, especially within military circles. Often characterized by a very sharp point
and usually two sharp edges, daggers are typically designed to be used as a thrusting or stabbing tool.
During medieval times, the dagger’s ability to pierce the links of chain mail and between plates of armor
made it invaluable when larger knives and swords often failed. Trampas takes a look at a very special
version that’s comes courtesy of some very good friends to PMCI!
O
ver time, daggers have come to represent
freedom, liberty and the end of oppression
due to their continued use during key
moments in history. Even the tyranny of the
mighty Julius Caesar fell to the dagger at the
hands of his Senate. With its unique shape
and design, there’s no wonder why these
simple tools have become part of ritual and
ceremonial contexts around the country
from Freemasons to modern warriors of some of the world’s
most elite fighting forces.
Daggers are used as part of the insignias of elite military
units or special forces, such as the US Army Airborne Special
Operations unit or the Commando Dagger patch for those
who have completed the British All Arms Commando Course.
Some of the toughest warriors I personally know bare tattoos
of the iconic dagger somewhere on their bodies in tribute to
the sleek, stealthy tool. Much like the image, these men and
women’s minds are sharp, precise and deadly!
The lineage of the modern fighting dagger was born on
a design created by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony
Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men
initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai
Municipal Police in China. Its rise to fame came through its
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