{"product_id":"rondel-knife-damascus-steel-blade-14","title":"Rondel Knife- Damascus Steel Blade - 14\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe rondel was the signature sidearm of the medieval knight: a stiff, tapering blade fitted between two steel discs, worn at the belt from the 14th century onward. This hand-forged rondel measures 14 inches overall, with a 352-layer Damascus steel blade, a hammered 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. Most orders ship promptly from our Illinois warehouse, 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\u003e14 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade steel:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e352-layer Damascus, stiff tapering profile\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuard and pommel:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHammered steel discs with domed pommel cap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrip:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eRibbed leather 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 Damascus Steel Blade\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade on this rondel is forged from 352 layers of Damascus steel. Our smiths begin with 11 pieces of steel and fold the billet progressively, doubling and redoubling the layers until the finished blade carries 352 alternating bands. The flowing, water-like pattern runs the full length of the tapering blade, and because the pattern emerges from the folding process itself, no two rondels are ever identical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rondel's blade profile is unlike a knife's: stiff, thick at the base, and tapering steadily to a fine point, a geometry that made the historical rondel one of the most rigid blades of the medieval period. Our smiths forge that same profile, heat treat it for hardness and resilience, and hand sharpen the finished blade. Each one passes our four quality control checkpoints before it ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistory of the Rondel\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rondel takes its name from the round steel discs at either end of its grip, from the French rond. It emerged in the 14th century and by the 15th had become standard equipment for the knightly class across Western Europe, worn at the hip alongside the sword. Period effigies and monumental brasses show knights with a rondel at the belt so consistently that historians treat it as part of the complete harness of the late medieval man-at-arms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rondel was not only a knight's item. Merchants and townsmen wore them as everyday sidearms and status pieces, and the form remained in use into the 16th century. The disc guard and disc pommel that define the type gave the hand a secure, enclosed grip, and they give the rondel its instantly recognizable silhouette today: a clean line of blade, leather, and steel circles that displays beautifully alongside a longsword or arming sword.\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 352-layer Damascus with the pattern visible along the full length.\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, hammered-finish steel on this model, 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 ribbed, 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, capped with a domed boss on this model, 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 Damascus blade is folded, shaped, heat treated, and sharpened by hand, then assembled with a full tang that runs through the grip and anchors at the pommel. 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 14 inches, the rondel is the natural companion to the swords of its era. It pairs with a longsword, arming sword, or bastard sword exactly as it did on the belts of 15th-century knights, completes a medieval display, and makes a distinctive gift at a smaller scale than a full sword. The one-of-a-kind Damascus pattern ensures no other collector owns the same blade.\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 Damascus 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\u003eHow many layers does the Damascus blade have?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is forged from 352 layers of Damascus steel. Our smiths start with 11 pieces of steel and fold the billet progressively until 352 alternating layers form the blade, producing the distinctive flowing pattern along the taper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long is this rondel?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rondel measures 14 inches overall. Historical rondels commonly ranged from about 12 to 20 inches, placing this piece comfortably within 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 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 Damascus blade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep the blade lightly oiled and store it in a dry environment. Damascus steel is high-carbon and not stainless, so a thin coat of mineral oil after handling prevents rust and preserves both the edge and the folded pattern. Avoid abrasive polishes, which can dull the contrast between layers.\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":46772378370220,"sku":"2000010050","price":199.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2234\/4067\/files\/Rondel.png?v=1784047649","url":"https:\/\/battlingblades.com\/products\/rondel-knife-damascus-steel-blade-14","provider":"Battling Blades","version":"1.0","type":"link"}