The first daggers were made of copper, quickly replaced by bronze.
Smiths could not make bronze swords very long because that metal is too soft, but daggers suited the material well.
Later daggers were of course made from iron or steel.
Most daggers have a straight, double-edged blade, though some are slightly curved and single-edged.
All have a sharp point.
Well-known examples are the Persian acinaces, the Roman pugio, the French poniard and main-gauche, the Medieval rondel dagger, the Italian stiletto and the Japanese tanto.
There are very many other types and names.
They are primarily used to stab at close quarters, but if need be can also be used to slash, though in range they are outmatched by all other sword types.
Daggers are favorite weapons of assassins, because they are small and can easily be concealed under clothing.
But more chivalrous warriors carried daggers too.
On the battlefield they served as emergency weapons for fighting in close combat, or when the warrior was deprived of his main weapon.
In more peaceful situations warriors usually laid down their main weapons yet retained a dagger, to be able to defend themselves,
as in some cultures they had to be ready for a fight all the time.
In the Renaissance, daggers were used as a secondary weapon in the left hand, while the warrior wielded a sword in the right hand.
The dagger was use both to parry and to attack.
Knives and daggers are light weapons.
Some are balanced so they can be thrown, though this is a fairly difficult feat, still practiced in the circus today.
Like our ancestors, modern soldiers often carry a knife or dagger as a sidearm, despite almost completely relying on guns in combat.
Knives and daggers are still lethal in close quarters or darkness, where a gun is of little use.
Outside combat they are also very useful in survival situations, as cutting tools.
War Matrix - Dagger
Middle East Period 3500 BCE - 3000 BCE, Weapons and technology