Italian Stiletto for comment

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Hi Wayne. While no expert, this appears to be a 19th c. "boot dagger" or gambler's dirk. They were a mode of self defense and popular in the Old West (American, that is). I'm sure with their popularity, they might have also been used in Europe?? Many of the late 19th c. bowies, gambler dirks and such were made in England and sold in N. America. Even the 'soiled doves' (ladies of ill repute) carried smaller daggers in their garters to ward off attacks, If you check out any site selling Old West memorabilia, you might come up with a similar example. Oh, if these blades could only talk, the stories they'd tell!

Hey Cap'n, , we're all students here always learnin' and these weapons actually do talk to us!!! You really nailed this one, I never thought of a western stiletto...…..in these parts.....its all about Bowie's.

You're right, many of these were made in Sheffield, just like so many Bowie's.

In looking more into these 'gamblers knives', or sometimes boot daggers, it seems in the 19th c. there were many Italians emigrating to the US, to New Orleans notably in reference to these daggers. Along with this diaspora, came the 'Black Hand' extortion racket, and these stilettos became a key weapon in these dealings. Apparently in 1874 there was a law passed in New Orleans against the sale or possession of these stilettos due to the number of killings carried out with them.

I was wondering how there was a connection from this stiletto from Italy, as Wayne indicates this one is sourced, but clearly these matters in New Orleans might give us some perspective.
The gutta percha handle is of interest, and this material was well known in pistol grips. While known earlier, to have become more regularly used after about 1850, when it was begun used more in England.

With gamblers, at least in the west, especially in san Francisco those push daggers were popular, but as mentioned, the 'working ladies' seem to have favored these stilettos. The Italians of course had a long history with them
already.

Wayne, your eclectic adventures in edged weapons know no bounds!!!
Thank you for sharing this