The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger — 14-Inch Hand-Forged Greek Xiphos Dagger

The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger — 14-Inch Hand-Forged Greek Xiphos Dagger | Leaf-Blade Carbon Steel | Customisable 10"–16"

The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger by Everest Forge is the compact 14-inch Greek Xiphos dagger — the backup blade every Greek hoplite carried as a last-resort sidearm when his primary spear and Xiphos were lost in battle. Hand-forged in Kathmandu, Nepal from 5160 high carbon spring steel, water-tempered, full-tang, and shipped sharpened — this is the smallest, lightest, and most accessible Xiphos in our range, built for collectors, gift-buyers, reenactors, and anyone who wants an authentic ancient Greek dagger that delivers the iconic leaf-blade geometry in a true sidearm format.

At 14 inches of blade, 19.5 inches overall, and approximately 450 grams (1 lb), the Hoplite Sidearm Dagger is the most versatile entry point into our Xiphos collection — small enough for EDC carry and gift-giving, balanced for cutting and thrusting practice, historically accurate to documented sub-Xiphos Greek dagger finds. Fully customisable: choose your blade length from 10" to 16", your blade finish (Satin, Mirror, or Blacked), your handle material (Rosewood, Whitewood, Horn, or Bone), and your leather scabbard colour from 6 options. Free personalised engraving on every blade and free custom logo or photo upload. The most affordable Xiphos in our range at $134.99, with the deepest customisation per dollar of any Greek dagger on the market.

Dimensions & Specifications

The 14-inch Hoplite Sidearm Dagger is hand-measured and hand-forged from individual 5160 spring steel billets. Every dagger is quality-checked, water-tempered, sharpened, and fitted before shipment. Dimensions match the documented range of Greek parazonium-style sidearm daggers carried by hoplites and Greek officers as their final-resort weapon.

Customise Your Hoplite Sidearm Dagger

Every Hoplite Sidearm Dagger we forge is made to order — there is no stock, no warehouse, no mass production. Every dagger is forged for one customer at one specification. That means deep customisation costs us minutes, not dollars, and we pass that on as the most generous Greek dagger customisation offering anywhere. All choices are selected through the dropdowns on this page; personalisation text is typed into the order field, and custom logos are uploaded as a file.

Key Features of the Hoplite Sidearm Dagger

Most affordable authentic Xiphos in our range. At $134.99 base, the Hoplite Sidearm Dagger is the entry point into the Everest Forge Xiphos family — without compromising on steel, forging, finish, or customisation. The same 5160 spring steel, full-tang construction, water-tempering, and free personalised engraving as our $374.99 Royal Xiphos.

5160 high carbon spring steel. The same material used in heavy-duty vehicle leaf springs — chosen for shock resistance, edge retention, and toughness. Oil-quenched and water-tempered to working hardness. Not stainless. Not a wall-hanger. Real working steel.

Compact Greek leaf-blade geometry. True double-edged, leaf-shaped profile scaled down to true sidearm dagger dimensions. Both edges sharpened, distal-tapered for cutting authority, balanced for both thrust and slash work.

Full-tang construction. Solid 5160 steel runs through the entire 5.5-inch handle, riveted through Rosewood (or your chosen material). No glued tangs, no welded extensions — one piece of steel from tip to pommel.

Hand-forged in Kathmandu, Nepal. Forged by hand on traditional anvils by master blacksmiths. See the full forging process on The Making page. Meet our team on Meet the Maker.

Handmade leather-wrapped scabbard included. Cottonwood core, hand-stitched genuine leather wrap, scaled to the 19.5-inch overall length. Pick from 6 leather colours at no extra cost.

Free personalised engraving + free custom logo upload. Name, regimental crest, family motto, military insignia, or any custom artwork — all included at no extra cost on every order. Turns a $134.99 dagger into a one-of-a-kind heirloom.

What Is a Greek Dagger? The Xiphos Sidearm in Historical Context

The ancient Greeks did not have a single dedicated "dagger" weapon in the way medieval Europe did. Instead, smaller Xiphos-style leaf-blade weapons served as both sidearm daggers and backup-of-backup weapons. When the Greek hoplite's primary spear (the dory) was broken AND his standard 18–24" Xiphos was lost or stuck in an enemy, he drew his compact sidearm Xiphos — the kind of blade we build as the 14" Hoplite Sidearm Dagger.

Historical references to Greek daggers include:

• Xiphos sidearm daggers — Compact 10–16" leaf-blade Xiphos blades carried as backup. The basis for this product.
• Parazonium (παραζώνιον) — A short Greek officer's sidearm dagger, worn at the belt, often ceremonial as well as functional. Greek and later Roman officers carried parazonium-style daggers as marks of rank.
• Xyele (ξυήλη) — A short curved Greek knife sometimes used as a sidearm and tool.
• Akinakes-style daggers — Persian-influenced Greek short daggers from the period of the Greco-Persian Wars.

The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger sits squarely in the Xiphos-sidearm tradition — a compact, leaf-blade, double-edged daily-carry weapon, historically authentic to documented Greek warrior sidearm finds. Read the full Xiphos history blog.

Who Buys the Hoplite Sidearm Dagger

First-time Xiphos buyers — The most affordable entry point into the Everest Forge Xiphos range. New collectors get full 5160 spring steel, full-tang construction, and free engraving — the same quality as our flagship Royal Xiphos at less than half the price.

Gift buyers — A hand-forged Greek dagger with free personalised engraving is a serious gift for the right recipient — history enthusiasts, classical scholars, military veterans, milestone birthdays, retirement gifts, groomsmen gifts, father's day, son's first knife. At $134.99 + free engraving, it's the most accessible authentic-history-gift in our range.

Ancient Greek history collectors — Buyers building a full Greek warrior kit. The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger pairs perfectly with the 21" Greek Xiphos Sword as the primary-and-sidearm hoplite loadout, just as Greek warriors carried.

Hoplite reenactors & living history — Reenactment groups need a historically defensible Greek sidearm dagger to complete a hoplite kit. The 14" length and leaf-blade geometry match documented Greek sidearm-dagger finds. Bulk orders welcome.

EDC and tactical-Xiphos enthusiasts — The compact 14" length (or 10" / 12" via customisation) puts the Xiphos into true EDC and tactical-carry territory. Pair the Blacked finish with the 10" length for an authentic-history tactical Greek knife unlike anything else on the market.

Knife collectors — Serious knife collectors looking to add a hand-forged historical Greek piece to their collection. Full-tang 5160 spring steel construction holds up against Bowie, Bushcraft, and tactical knives at similar price points.

Cosplay & film prop builds — 300, Troy, Alexander, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Hades. The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger fits as a hero's backup blade or a supporting character's primary weapon. Mirror finish for cinematic look, Blacked for tactical modern adaptations.

What's Included With Every Hoplite Sidearm Dagger

• One 14-inch Hoplite Sidearm Dagger (or your chosen length 10"–16")
• Hand-stitched leather-wrapped wooden scabbard (your colour choice from 6 options)
• Free personalised text engraving (your name / motto / dedication)
• Free custom logo or photo engraving (your uploaded artwork)
• Manufacturer's care guide
• Tracked worldwide shipping via DHL Express or FedEx International
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee + 6-month manufacturing warranty

Worldwide Shipping & Trust

Every Hoplite Sidearm Dagger ships from Kathmandu, Nepal via DHL Express or FedEx International with full tracking. Total typical timeline: 8–15 business days (3–5 days for forging and quality-checking, plus 5–10 days for international delivery). Custom lengths and personalised orders may take longer. The 14" dagger format ships in a compact padded box suitable for gift presentation.

• Shipping & Returns — DHL/FedEx delivery, tracking, customs
• Warranty & Returns Policy — 30-day satisfaction, 6-month warranty
• Secure Shopping — SSL checkout, PCI-compliant payment
• The Making — how every blade is forged
• Meet the Maker — our blacksmiths in Kathmandu
• Battle Ready Standard — what we mean by battle-ready

Compare With Other Xiphos Daggers and Swords

The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger is the smallest, most affordable Xiphos in our range. Compare with the other Xiphos options:

• The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger (this product) — 14" compact sidearm, customisable 10"–16", entry-point pricing ($134.99)
• 15" Customized Xiphos Dagger — Personalisation-focused 15" Xiphos dagger ($139.99)
• 15" Ancient Greek Xiphos Dagger — Historical replica focus ($149.99)
• 18" Short Xiphos Sword — Spartan-style short Xiphos, on sale ($149.99)
• 21" Greek Xiphos Sword — Classical hoplite bestseller ($174.99)
• 22" Angel Wings Xiphos — Distinctive winged-guard design ($224.99)
• 24" Ancient Greek Xiphos — Full-length classical Xiphos ($234.99)
• The Royal Xiphos — 28" Extra Large — Officer's blade flagship ($374.99)
• View All Xiphos Swords — Full category

Frequently Asked Questions — The Hoplite Sidearm Dagger