Left Hand Dagger?

corrado26 · 1st October 2021, 07:19 AM

Thanks a lot for your help. Maybe that the mention of Spain as probable origin hits the nail: I got it from a Spanish collector.

midelburgo · 1st October 2021, 01:10 PM

Could it be an artillerist dagger?

To clean the gun touchhole.

mariusgmioc · 1st October 2021, 01:27 PM

I consider this a rather clear example of a STILETTO.

Absolutely not a left-hand dagger.

cel7 · 1st October 2021, 02:32 PM

I agree with mariusgmioc, this is an italian stiletto.

fernando · 1st October 2021, 04:09 PM

I would not venture myself for a stilleto, looking at its hybrid composition.
Stilettos, as the word means, are supposed to be rather thin, which doesn't seem to be the 'ferocious' blade tip of this weapon.
Neither a Spanish 'daga de mano izquierda' (maing gauche is a Gallicism), even having come from a Spanish collector.
Also i am surprised that Spanish left handers came into action at a later stage; there are Toledan 'guardamanos' in the Real Armeria from the XVII century, a time when they were used in sword & dagger fighting.

fernando · 1st October 2021, 04:26 PM

The Toledan Almaus, father and son, used a star for mark and so is a star in my centoventi; but both are distinct in shape with the one in Udo's example.

.

Jim McDougall · 1st October 2021, 05:07 PM

I agree on the note this is not a stilletto, especially not Italian and not the gunners stiletto, with narrow blade as Fernando describes to insert in touch hole if emplacement overrun...to 'spike' the cannon.

The flared tip, seemingly armor or otherwise piercing enabling.....this was not just for armor, but heavily padded textiles often worn.

Fernando, the 'star' on the example shown is a 'pentagram' with five points, not the asterisk type used in Toledo. If the five point star existed over a century before, it does seem possible of course to have still been in use somewhere.

The classical styling of the hilt does suggest Italy or Spain as context, but hard to say for sure. An anomaly to be sure!

1st October 2021, 04:26 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The star mark The Toledan Almaus, father and son, used a star for mark and so is a star in my centoventi; but both are distinct in shape with the one in Udo's example. . Attached Images

1st October 2021, 07:19 AM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,226	Thanks a lot for your help. Maybe that the mention of Spain as probable origin hits the nail: I got it from a Spanish collector.

1st October 2021, 01:10 PM	#2
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 264	Could it be an artillerist dagger? To clean the gun touchhole.

1st October 2021, 01:27 PM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	I consider this a rather clear example of a STILETTO. Absolutely not a left-hand dagger.

1st October 2021, 02:32 PM	#4
cel7 Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 157	I agree with mariusgmioc, this is an italian stiletto.

1st October 2021, 04:09 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I would not venture myself for a stilleto, looking at its hybrid composition. Stilettos, as the word means, are supposed to be rather thin, which doesn't seem to be the 'ferocious' blade tip of this weapon. Neither a Spanish 'daga de mano izquierda' (maing gauche is a Gallicism), even having come from a Spanish collector. Also i am surprised that Spanish left handers came into action at a later stage; there are Toledan 'guardamanos' in the Real Armeria from the XVII century, a time when they were used in sword & dagger fighting.

1st October 2021, 05:07 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	I agree on the note this is not a stilletto, especially not Italian and not the gunners stiletto, with narrow blade as Fernando describes to insert in touch hole if emplacement overrun...to 'spike' the cannon. The flared tip, seemingly armor or otherwise piercing enabling.....this was not just for armor, but heavily padded textiles often worn. Fernando, the 'star' on the example shown is a 'pentagram' with five points, not the asterisk type used in Toledo. If the five point star existed over a century before, it does seem possible of course to have still been in use somewhere. The classical styling of the hilt does suggest Italy or Spain as context, but hard to say for sure. An anomaly to be sure!