Dagger Pommel
Physical Object
1986.008.0114
Nuestra Señora de Atocha (1622)
circa 1620
An iron dagger pommel recovered from the 1622 galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. A pommel is a globular knob that screwed onto the base end of a sword hilt, to act as a counterweight to the blade and move the center of gravity toward the hilt and the hand. This made the dagger much easier to handle and maneuver. This piece is made of two cast halves decorated with a swirling pattern. It is 4.5 centimeters long.