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Originally Posted by fernando
Fusetto; i would say, a term more associated with its 'puncturing'/'spiking' purposes than to its measuring 'abilities'.
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Totally agree, the narrow blade would be exactly perfect to spike a gun out of service, and while that seems a kind of a 'narrow' purpose to call for an entire weapon instead of just a simple rod or whatever.....a weapon could be worn and kept handy.
In war, the guns were of key importance, and were to be defended at all costs, but if all failed......better they were rendered useless than to have them fall into the hands of the enemy.
It does seem far fetched to place such elaborate 'decoration' on a weapon which was intended for such simple purpose and possible destruction, but no army or its gunners went into battle with defeat in mind.
The biggest question on most of these 'gunners stilettos' was, what in the world were these often odd and complicated calibrations for? While the notion of measuring black powder certainly seems feasible, and many extant examples of these are said to have corrision commensurate with the effects of such powder, that may be from their use in puncturing powder bags.
The more commonly held idea is for measuring bore to exact ammunition for discharge, but even this seems questionable. That idea I think came from the 16th c. stilettos that were fashioned as calipers that closed into a blade.
Probably the truest character of the stiletto, is the deadly weapon of the assassin, its mystery and disdain as such. That dark reputation surely attracted the testosterone and hubris effect for many and added to these kinds of weapons produced more for show than actual use. Weapons were often a showcase item which were intended more as an accoutrement of formidability that would deter attack or threat as well as display status and character.
I recall younger days (uh about a zillion years ago
when after "West Side Story "; "Blackboard Jungle" every testosterone addled young guy seemed to either get a switchblade knife, or wanted to. After all, they were 'against the law'. While many guys carried and often brandished these formidable knives, the stirring click as the blade locked was like the 'ratchet' of a shotgun......few knew how to use them.
Such is the 'mystique' which often accompanies many weapons.