Dark One Dagger

"If I own that dagger, I control the Dark One. If I kill the Dark One with the dagger, I take his powers."

- Rumplestiltskin to Baelfire

The Dark One's Dagger is a magical item featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It first appears in the eighth episode of the first season.

Known Owners

 * Alice/Tilly
 * Anna
 * August Booth
 * Baelfire †
 * Belle French †
 * Black Fairy †
 * Cora †
 * David Nolan
 * Duke of the Frontlands
 * Emma Swan
 * Gideon


 * Hordor †
 * Mary Margaret Blanchard
 * Mr. Gold's shadow
 * Mr. Hyde †
 * Nimue †
 * Regina Mills
 * Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold/Weaver
 * Zelena
 * Zoso †

Known Users

 * Alice
 * Anna
 * August Booth (failed)
 * Baelfire †
 * Belle French †
 * Black Fairy †
 * Emma Swan
 * Gideon
 * Hook


 * Merlin †
 * Mr. Hyde †
 * Nimue †
 * Regina Mills
 * Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold
 * Zelena
 * Zoso †

Trivia

 * -|On-screen Notes=

On-screen Notes

 * According to Cora, if the Dark One is killed without the use of the dagger, he or she will expel the powers of the Dark One into the air after death without anyone else being next in line to inherit it.
 * Excalibur's blade, which the dagger was a part of, is normally silver-colored with black markings, but after the Darkness is absorbed into the sword, the blade becomes black, with silver markings. This is best seen as the sword disintegrates in Emma's hands. The new version of the dagger has the same color scheme as does the Dark Grail.


 * -|Cultural References=

Fairytales and Folklore

 * The significance of the Dark One's name on the dagger is an allusion to the original Rumpelstiltskin fairytale, where Rumplestiltskin made a deal with the miller's daughter to discover his name.

Popular Culture

 * Cora refers to the dagger as a "kris dagger". A kris is a prized Indonesian weapon known for its distinctive, wavy blade. They are considered to be spiritual objects.


 * -|Set Notes=

Props Notes

 * The design is based on ritualistic Indonesian knives.

Set Dressing

 * When King Arthur is translating the Carmarthen Scroll, a drawing of the dagger is lying on the table. Years later, the same drawing is lying in front of him on the Round Table as Arthur is talking to David.

Costume Notes

 * When Belle is searching for the Snow Queen, she is wearing a dagger-printed scarf.
 * In Isaac's alternate reality, Emma is wearing a pair of dagger-shaped earrings.


 * -|Goofs=

Goofs

 * Throughout the series, the written letters of the Dark One's name keeps switching from one side of the blade to the other. Sometimes, the letters are right side up when the dagger is held in the right hand and facing the wielder with the first letter at the tip of the blade. At other times, the writing is right side up when the dagger is facing the wielder and held in the left hand with the first letter next to the hilt.
 * In "Fall", while Mr. Gold and Belle are saying their goodbyes outside of the pawnshop, the dagger appears and disappears from Mr. Gold's hand.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.