Tool or dagger?

[cornelistromp]

Originally Posted by karloj

Hello
I am new in this very interesting forum.
I would be grateful if someone could identify this "dagger".
Sadly (in my opinion) It has been polished heavily. I cant myself identify it any way. I don't know it's origin or age.

It is about 39 cm long. The blade is not sharp. You could not cut anything (but maybe butter) with it. In the blade there is, in the same place counting from the tip of the blade, two marks and in the every facet is one dent.
It might not be very interesting in any respect, but I am very curious to hear what could be four dents and two marks in the blade.

Thank you for in advance for your opinins
Jussi

This is definitely a dagger and also very interesting one.
the so called baluster-turned ricasso is seen on stilettos of Italian origin at the end of the 16th century.(fe knifes dagger and bayonets T.Capwell p 142)
However, this dagger has a more german appeal due to the bulky iron grip and small thumb guard which is missing here. (fe A&A of the knights and Landsknechts p224, 230)
This dagger can be dated around the middle of the 16th century.

the marks and the dents at the blade can be a measuring device, such as a forerunner of all steel gunners stiletto with one side of the blade numbered , used for determining the weight / size of a cannonball.



best,