{"product_id":"rondel-knife-1095-15","title":"Rondel Knife- 1095 Steel Blade - 15\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe rondel was the sidearm the medieval knight wore at his belt: a stiff, steadily tapering blade set between two round steel plates, standard equipment across Western Europe by the 15th century. This hand-forged rondel measures 15 inches overall, with a blade of 1095 high-carbon steel, a steel disc guard and matching disc pommel, and a leather-wrapped grip. The blade is forged, heat treated, and hand sharpened by master smiths with a full tang running through the hilt for genuine battle-ready construction. All Battling Blades orders ship from our own warehouse in Illinois, and custom engraving is completed in-house before your rondel leaves our facility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverall length:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e15 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade steel:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e1095 high-carbon, stiff tapering profile\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuard and pommel:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eMatched steel discs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrip:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eLeather wrap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFull tang, battle-ready\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEngraving:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOptional, completed in-house at our Illinois workshop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe 1095 High-Carbon Steel Blade\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade on this rondel is forged from 1095 high-carbon steel, the classic workhorse of traditional blademaking. With roughly 0.95 percent carbon content, 1095 takes an exceptionally keen edge, holds it well, and responds beautifully to heat treatment, which is why smiths have trusted it for generations of functional blades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rondel demands more rigidity than almost any blade of its size: thick at the base and tapering steadily to a fine point, it was among the stiffest blade forms of the medieval period. Our smiths forge that same geometry in 1095, heat treat it for the right balance of hardness and resilience, and hand sharpen the finished edge to a clean polish. Each blade passes our four quality control checkpoints before it is assembled and shipped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistory of the Rondel\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNamed for the French rond, meaning round, the rondel is defined by the paired discs at either end of its grip. The form appeared in the 14th century, and within a hundred years it had become so universal among the knightly class that period effigies and monumental brasses almost always show one at the hip of an armored man-at-arms, right beside the sword.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts reach went well beyond the nobility. Merchants, tradesmen, and townsfolk across England, France, and the German lands wore rondels as everyday sidearms and marks of status, and the type stayed in use into the 16th century. The enclosed grip created by the two discs, together with that unmistakable silhouette of blade, leather, and steel circles, is what makes the rondel one of the most recognizable pieces of the late medieval world, and one of the most satisfying to display beside a longsword or arming sword today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAnatomy of a Rondel\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rondel's construction is simple and distinctive, built from a handful of parts:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eStiff and steadily tapering, thick at the base for rigidity. On this model, forged from 1095 high-carbon steel with a polished finish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDisc guard:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe round steel plate between grip and blade, which defines the type and protects the hand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrip:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe leather-wrapped handle sized for a single hand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDisc pommel:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe matching round plate at the top of the grip, which encloses the hand and anchors the full tang.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCraftsmanship and Quality\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Battling Blades rondel is hand forged by master smiths through our direct workshop relationships, not mass produced. The 1095 blade is forged, heat treated, and sharpened by hand, then assembled with a full tang that runs through the grip and anchors at the pommel disc. This is battle-ready construction: a genuine forged blade built to the same standard as our swords, not a decorative casting. Custom engraving and etching are completed at our own facility in Illinois, so personalized orders never leave our quality control chain before shipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Knight's Companion Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 15 inches, the rondel sits at the upper end of the classic period size and pairs naturally with the swords of its era. Display it beside a longsword, arming sword, or bastard sword the way it hung on 15th-century belts, use it to complete a medieval arms wall, or give it as a distinctive gift at a smaller scale than a full sword.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is a rondel?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rondel is a medieval sidearm defined by the two round steel discs at either end of its grip, one serving as the guard and one as the pommel. It was carried by knights, merchants, and townsmen from the 14th through the 16th centuries and is named for the French word rond, meaning round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this rondel battle-ready?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. This rondel features a hand-forged 1095 high-carbon blade with a full tang running through the grip and anchoring at the pommel disc. It is built to the same quality standard as our swords, with heat treatment and hand sharpening at every step. It is a genuine forged blade, not a decorative casting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is 1095 steel?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1095 is a high-carbon steel containing roughly 0.95 percent carbon. It is one of the most trusted steels in traditional blademaking because it takes a very sharp edge, holds that edge well, and responds beautifully to heat treatment. It is the classic choice for functional forged blades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long is this rondel?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rondel measures 15 inches overall. Historical rondels commonly ranged from about 12 to 20 inches, placing this piece at the upper middle of the classic period size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy does the rondel have discs instead of a crossguard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe disc guard and disc pommel enclose the hand from both sides, giving a secure grip, and they were simpler to fit to a stiff, narrow blade than a traditional crossguard. The paired discs became the defining feature of the type and the source of its name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho carried rondels historically?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the 15th century the rondel was standard equipment for knights and men-at-arms across Western Europe, worn at the belt alongside the sword. It was also widely carried by merchants and townsmen as an everyday sidearm and status piece, and it appears consistently on period effigies and monumental brasses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between the 1095 and Damascus rondels?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth are hand forged with the same full-tang, disc-hilted construction. The 1095 version carries a clean polished blade in classic high-carbon steel, while the Damascus version is folded to 352 layers for a flowing, one-of-a-kind pattern. The choice is aesthetic: traditional polish or patterned steel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between a rondel and a dirk?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth are historical sidearms, but they come from different traditions. The rondel is the disc-hilted blade of the late medieval European knight, while the dirk is the long Scottish blade of the Highlands, typically with a carved wooden grip and no guard discs. Collectors of medieval arms usually pair the rondel with a longsword, and the dirk with a claymore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I care for a 1095 steel blade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep the blade lightly oiled and store it in a dry environment. 1095 is a high-carbon steel and not stainless, so a thin coat of mineral oil after handling prevents rust and preserves the polished finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow quickly does it ship?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll Battling Blades orders ship from our own warehouse in Illinois, and most rondels are in stock and ship promptly. If you add custom engraving, we complete it in-house, which adds minimal time to your order.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Battling Blades","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46772378501292,"sku":"2000010051","price":199.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2234\/4067\/files\/Rondel6.png?v=1784047783","url":"https:\/\/battlingblades.com\/products\/rondel-knife-1095-15","provider":"Battling Blades","version":"1.0","type":"link"}