Artillery Sylet Called Bombardier's Dagger, Italy 17th Century

This weapon is an Italian artillery stiletto dating from the 17th century. These stilettos, also called bombardier daggers, are recognizable by their small guard and their triangular blade bearing graduations. In the literal sense, only stilettos whose blades are engraved with numbers separated by perpendicular lines can be considered as true artillery stilettos.
The exact use of these graduations is still the subject of discussion among specialists:
For the most part, these graduations were used to calculate the powder charge to be introduced into the cannons according to the distance of the objective.
For others, they were used to evaluate the elevation to be given to the barrel of the cannon according to the distance, as the adjustable rear sights of rifles would do a little later.
These triangular blades were also used to clean the firing port of the cannons, which became clogged very quickly due to the residue that the black powder left after each shot.
Some authors have claimed (without being able to cite any sources) that when the cannons were abandoned in the face of an enemy who was too powerful, the blade of these daggers, forced in and broken inside the firehole of the cannon, made these artillery pieces unusable by the enemy. This is technically possible, but there is no example of this desperate action during battles, since the hope of recapturing the cannons from the enemy persisted, and if all the accounts of the time mention cannons "captured from the enemy", there is never any mention of pieces rendered unusable by "nailing" during a battle in the 16th, 17th or 18th centuries.
BLADE: after a baluster-shaped start, it takes a triangular shape up to the point. On one side we find the succession of characteristic numbers: 1, 3, 6, 8, ... up to 120.
Length of the blade = 22.6 cm, width at the heel 10.8 mm, thickness at the heel 10.2 mm
GUARD: it is an iron guard with 2 twisted quillons, slightly inclined towards the blade.
GRIP : It is made of twisted horn, with a decoration of brass bands and brass studding. On the side near the guard, a brass ring forming a ferrule, and on the opposite side, we find a steel pommel, slightly conical, which allowed the use of this stylet as a plug bayonet.

In conclusion, it is a beautiful weapon very representative of the battlefields of the 16th and 17th centuries, of indisputable authenticity. Taking it in hand is to find the atmosphere of the roar of the cannons and the smoke of the black powder.
Ref EX-2574
Shipping costs: France €20, Europe €30