Italian Vendetta?

DaveA · 16th May 2026, 06:41 AM

Hello all,

Beautiful knife. I will bet on the Corsica attribution, but there was a lot of cross fertilization of designs in the Mediterranean in that mid-19th C period.

I have several “Vendetta” knives from Corsica and stilettos from Liguria, Italy that are historically notable and of possible relevance to this discussion. I am remodeling my website but I will give you some links below to these item rather than repeat everything here. (The links will change in a few months when the site is fully ready, and I will update them at that time.)

The “vendetta” knife is a distinct Corsican style, mid 19th to early 20th C. This style is considered as the classical Corsican knife. It is sometimes referred to as a “stylet” or stiletto.

The knife is characterized by its thin spear point blade, its very long top bolster, that takes roughly half of the handle and the recess in that bolster. The blade is sharpened on both sides near the tip. There is a false edge. It is diamond shape in cross-section. Decorations include a chain on the scabbard and etching. Often the words “Vendetta” and/or/both “Morte” (death) are etched in the design. The knife is inspired by the Genoan stylet, a thin dagger. The name "Vendetta" is inspired by a book by Prosper Merimee, "Colomba" (1840) about vengeance between two powerful families.

Corsican Vendetta Knife

An Italian Vendetta knife, possibly from Corsica.

Feel free to poke around the “draft” website. I have all but about a dozen or two weapons in my collection represented. I am rethinking some of the organization and navigation of the site. I hope the information is useful to you!

[edited: removed reference to Italian stilettos from Liguria]

16th May 2026, 06:41 AM	#13
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 470	“Vendetta “ knives Hello all, Beautiful knife. I will bet on the Corsica attribution, but there was a lot of cross fertilization of designs in the Mediterranean in that mid-19th C period. I have several “Vendetta” knives from Corsica and stilettos from Liguria, Italy that are historically notable and of possible relevance to this discussion. I am remodeling my website but I will give you some links below to these item rather than repeat everything here. (The links will change in a few months when the site is fully ready, and I will update them at that time.) The “vendetta” knife is a distinct Corsican style, mid 19th to early 20th C. This style is considered as the classical Corsican knife. It is sometimes referred to as a “stylet” or stiletto. The knife is characterized by its thin spear point blade, its very long top bolster, that takes roughly half of the handle and the recess in that bolster. The blade is sharpened on both sides near the tip. There is a false edge. It is diamond shape in cross-section. Decorations include a chain on the scabbard and etching. Often the words “Vendetta” and/or/both “Morte” (death) are etched in the design. The knife is inspired by the Genoan stylet, a thin dagger. The name "Vendetta" is inspired by a book by Prosper Merimee, "Colomba" (1840) about vengeance between two powerful families. Corsican Vendetta Knife An Italian Vendetta knife, possibly from Corsica. Feel free to poke around the “draft” website. I have all but about a dozen or two weapons in my collection represented. I am rethinking some of the organization and navigation of the site. I hope the information is useful to you! [edited: removed reference to Italian stilettos from Liguria] Last edited by DaveA; 16th May 2026 at 07:57 PM.