Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - An unusual stiletto depicted in Indo-Persian miniatures.

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 06:30 PM

This is most intriguing! and certainly an anomaly so not surprising it is not well represented in miniatures, which seem to be virtually the only resource with which to identify many weapon forms and approximate period associated in study of these regions.

This narrow blade is of course contrary to the various knives and daggers of Central Asian regions which include, kard ; pesh kabz; khanjhar, karud and Qama, however on some the needle point is featured. Otherwise they are all full bladed.

What is unusual on this is that it seems almost a rapier blade, and almost as in the manner of a sword cane, or swagger stick with the weapon concealed. While that particular convention seems to have arisen in Europe possibly from colonial situations in India much later, it is tempting to consider the idea of a concealed weapon in Persian context with their innovations in weapons.

The stiletto dagger seems to have evolved in Italy in latter 16th century or slightly earlier, from the rondel daggers and misercordes, secondary weapons for knights. The misercorde was with thin blade to issue 'coup de grace' to fallen foes in armor, and could reach through separations in the plate etc.
It became a favored weapon of assassins for its deadly penetration and being easily concealed.

It would seem this example may have been intended as a concealed weapon as noted, in the context of a stick or such item carried by a person of status or courtly accoutrement.

In hoping to find something comparable I reached a colleague who is probably one of the most well versed in Islamic arms and of these contexts I know.
He noted from the photo that he would not have regarded this example quite as early as suggested by the date in the inscription.

He was not surprised that such an item was not well represented in the miniatures, as the estoc type Ottoman thrusting weapon known as the 'MEC' also is not seen represented in these.

The calligraphy is described as of early form but not particularly well executed, and overall the decoration not as refined as would be expected.

There was of course considerable diplomatic contact between Russia and these Khanates in the periods suggested from 16th c. so of course the connections are well established.

It would be tempting to consider this a European rapier blade, fashioned to be concealed in a 'stick' as earlier suggested, but unclear on the section of the blade, and whether the date stated (1552) would correspond to rapier blades in that time frame. Still the notion seemed worthy of note.

Yesterday, 06:30 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	This is most intriguing! and certainly an anomaly so not surprising it is not well represented in miniatures, which seem to be virtually the only resource with which to identify many weapon forms and approximate period associated in study of these regions. This narrow blade is of course contrary to the various knives and daggers of Central Asian regions which include, kard ; pesh kabz; khanjhar, karud and Qama, however on some the needle point is featured. Otherwise they are all full bladed. What is unusual on this is that it seems almost a rapier blade, and almost as in the manner of a sword cane, or swagger stick with the weapon concealed. While that particular convention seems to have arisen in Europe possibly from colonial situations in India much later, it is tempting to consider the idea of a concealed weapon in Persian context with their innovations in weapons. The stiletto dagger seems to have evolved in Italy in latter 16th century or slightly earlier, from the rondel daggers and misercordes, secondary weapons for knights. The misercorde was with thin blade to issue 'coup de grace' to fallen foes in armor, and could reach through separations in the plate etc. It became a favored weapon of assassins for its deadly penetration and being easily concealed. It would seem this example may have been intended as a concealed weapon as noted, in the context of a stick or such item carried by a person of status or courtly accoutrement. In hoping to find something comparable I reached a colleague who is probably one of the most well versed in Islamic arms and of these contexts I know. He noted from the photo that he would not have regarded this example quite as early as suggested by the date in the inscription. He was not surprised that such an item was not well represented in the miniatures, as the estoc type Ottoman thrusting weapon known as the 'MEC' also is not seen represented in these. The calligraphy is described as of early form but not particularly well executed, and overall the decoration not as refined as would be expected. There was of course considerable diplomatic contact between Russia and these Khanates in the periods suggested from 16th c. so of course the connections are well established. It would be tempting to consider this a European rapier blade, fashioned to be concealed in a 'stick' as earlier suggested, but unclear on the section of the blade, and whether the date stated (1552) would correspond to rapier blades in that time frame. Still the notion seemed worthy of note.