Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-7644192-20140331215705/@comment-24892318-20140701205222

Rumble did offer the dagger to August when he thought he was Bae. So he was willing to give it to Bae. Of course, there was no magic in SB at the time, so he wasn't giving up his immediate power, just the possibility that he'd get it back if Emma was successful.

Regardless, he's not willing to give it to Belle. He cares more about his power than he does her. So whether the dagger would be safer with her is a mute question because he's never going to give it to her.