poignards

Poignards are a class of European daggers defined by long, slender blades designed primarily for thrusting. The term is of French origin, and in historical usage it refers to a thrusting dagger common from the 14th through the 16th centuries, with variants persisting into the early modern period.

Design generally features a straight, double-edged blade that is narrow and pointed to maximize penetrating power. Typical lengths range from about 12 to 25 centimeters. The blade may include a fuller to reduce weight. The hilt usually includes a crossguard to protect the hand, with grips made of wood, bone, or metal and a variety of pommel shapes. While most poignards are double-edged, some regional examples show a single sharpened edge or other minor variations.

Historically, poignards were carried as a secondary weapon by civilians and soldiers, useful in close combat and self-defense situations where a longer sword was impractical. They accompanied swords and other polearms in warfare, and were also employed in duels and in concealment-driven contexts. As early modern warfare favored more specialized dueling weapons such as the rapier and later the small sword, the poignard gradually declined as a primary military arm, though dagger designs continued to evolve and appear in later periods.

Poignards are distinct from other dagger types such as rondel daggers or stilettos, though they share the broader categorization of daggers. See also dagger, stiletto, and rondel dagger for related weapon types.