D'k tahg

File:Dk tahg, The way of the warrior.jpg

A d'k tahg bearing Kaybok's family crest

File:Kling D'K Tagh.jpg

A d'k tahg with secondary blades closed (top) and open (bottom)

The d'k tahg (or Daqtagh) was the traditional Klingon warrior's knife. It consisted of a single, straight-edged primary blade and two curved secondary blades, which could be either fixed or hinged. It was commonly used in hand-to-hand combat, and had great ceremonial value in Klingon culture. The handle featured a rounded, spiked pommel and sometimes bore an emblem representing the members of its owner's house near the hilt of the blade. (TNG: "Firstborn")

David Marcus was killed on the Genesis Planet by a Klingon with a d'k tahg in 2285. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

A d'k tahg was part of a Klingon ritual that Worf executed after Marla Aster's death. The ritual included extinguishing a candle with the knife in 2366. (TNG: "The Bonding")

Captain Jean-Luc Picard kept a sheathed d'k tahg in his quarters aboard the USS Enterprise-D. Jono used this dagger to wound the captain in 2367. (TNG: "Suddenly Human")

A d'k tahg was one of the objects that Berlinghoff Rasmussen tried to steal from the crew of the Enterprise-D when he was visiting the ship in 2368. (TNG: "A Matter of Time")

Kang killed the Albino in battle with a d'k tahg on Secarus IV in 2370. (DS9: "Blood Oath")

Stealing a warrior's d'k tahg was considered a grave insult to his honor. Worf took Drex's in 2372 to attract his father Martok's attention. Previously, Martok brought Kaybok's d'k tahg into Sisko's office. Dax explained that Kaybok was killed because of his disobedience. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

Major Kira Nerys was stabbed in her side with a d'k tahg by a Klingon warrior during the battle on board Deep Space 9. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

Appendices

Appearances

• ENT:
  • "The Augments"
• Star Trek films:
  • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• TNG:
  • "The Bonding"
  • "Suddenly Human"
  • "Qpid"
  • "Redemption"
  • "Redemption II"
  • "A Matter of Time"
  • "Birthright, Part II"
  • "Rightful Heir"
  • "Firstborn"
• DS9:
  • "Blood Oath"
  • "The House of Quark"
  • "The Way of the Warrior"
  • "The Sword of Kahless"
  • "Return to Grace"
  • "Shattered Mirror"
  • "Apocalypse Rising"
  • "Soldiers of the Empire"
  • "Children of Time"
  • "Sons and Daughters"
  • "You Are Cordially Invited"
  • "Tears of the Prophets"
  • "Image in the Sand"
  • "Shadows and Symbols"
  • "Once More Unto the Breach"
  • "When It Rains..."
• VOY:
  • "Real Life"
  • "The Killing Game"
  • "The Killing Game, Part II"
  • "Barge of the Dead"

Background information

This Klingon knife was designed for Star Trek III by Phil Norwood. Two versions of the knife were made for the film: one with an aluminum blade that was polished and sharpened like a real knife, while the second was a rubber dummy used to kill Dr. Marcus. The knife was not given the official name of d'k tahg until "Birthright, Part II". When it was used for the Next Generation, the original prop was not available, so Rick Sternbach duplicated the design for the show's prop makers, using a Star Trek trading card for reference. (Star Trek Encyclopedia) It was known unofficially, especially among fans of FASA's Star Trek: The Role Playing Game in the 1980s, as the "honor blade."

External link

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