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 *sider the period at which it was brought together. Turning to continental collections we may mention that the Arsenal, or Zeughaus, of Berlin, so recently augmented, contains a splendid series of daggers from the earlier mediaeval times onwards, which has been mainly acquired by the purchase of the collection formed by the late M. Victor Gay, author of the famous Glossaire Archéologique. The Musée d'Artillerie of Paris has very fine individual examples coming from Napoleon III's collection at Pierrefonds; while Dresden, Vienna, Turin, Brussels, and finally the Metropolitan Museum of New York, through the purchase of the Duc de Dino's and the gift of the Riggs' Collections, all possess examples of this interesting little arm in great variety. Among private collections of the first order we must include that of Mr. Henry G. Keasby and that of Mr. J. Reubell of Paris. Almost every known type may be found in Mr. Reubell's superb collection, for the most part in splendid condition, and cared for in such a way as to mark its owner as a true collector. Mr. Reubell has made a life study of this subject, and his collection stands as a monument to his perseverance. We may perhaps be allowed to express the hope that this perfect collection will remain intact; since more than half its value lies in its very completeness.

For daggers of the latter part of the XIVth and of the commencement of the XVth centuries type we have as usual to turn to the brasses and effigies, especially to the former, in order to discover what particular forms the knights of old were wont to use. Broadly speaking, six different types of hilt can be classified:

(1) The "Quillon" dagger (2) The "Rondel" dagger (3) The so-called "Kidney" dagger (4) The so-called "Ear" pommel dagger (5) The transitional XVth to XVIth centurytypes (6) The so-called "Cinquedea."

Practically the first three types were in concurrent use; for each can be found represented in monumental brasses from about 1360 to 1500. However, to simplify the subject, we will take each family of hilt separately.

THE FIRST TYPE OF DAGGER—VARIETIES OF THE QUILLON ORDER

Of the "quillon" dagger little can be said; for its name describes its chief characteristic, which is its quillon guard. The general construction of this weapon varied but slightly through the centuries in which it was in use,