A stiletto is a short knife or dagger, with a long slender blade of various designs. A dagger (from Vulgar Latin: 'daca' - a Dacian Knife) is a typically double-edged blade used for Stabbing or thrusting This dagger is primarily a stabbing weapon, its narrow shape ending in a rigid pointed end allows it to penetrate deeply. A stabbing is the penetration of a sharp or pointed object at close range It is not suited for cutting, even with edged examples. Cutting is the separation of a physical object or a portion of a physical object into two portions through the application of an acutely directed force A typical early stiletto was a one piece cast metal handle and blade, that was then hammer forged in a "V" groove anvil producing a triangular blade cross section without any sharpened edges. Other examples have round, square and diamond cross sections. The word stiletto may sometimes be used in American English to refer to a switchblade. Phonology North American English regional phonology In many ways compared to English English, North American English is conservative in its Phonology. A switchblade (also known as automatic knife, switch, or in British English flick knife) is a type of Knife with a folding or Stiletto may also be used specifically for a knife exhibiting the same triangular cross-section and hollow grind as a small sword. The small sword or smallsword (also court sword, fr épée de cour or dress sword) is a light one-handed Sword designed for thrusting

History

The word stiletto comes from the word "Stylus". The earliest writing in clay tablets (Summeria 3000BC) was done by pressing a Stylus (cut reed stick) into the wet clay. The term cuneiform literally means "wedge-shaped", referring to the text font resembling combinations of triangular holes. Triangular cross section weapons left the same type of holes. The stiletto began to gain fame during the Renaissance when it was popular as a tool against heavily armoured knights. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. The thin blade could easily pass through most chainmail, or find its way through tiny gaps in a knight's armour. Mail (also maille, often given as chain mail or chain maille) is a type of Armour or jewellery that consists of small metal rings linked Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact Later the Gunners Stilettoes became a tool for clearing cannon fuse touch holes. Used like an automotive oil dip stick, they were often scribed with marks indicating levels of powder charges for ranging distance.

The stiletto was also favoured amongst assassins because it was an easily concealed weapon. AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media. This tactic occurred repeatedly, from the Zealots of 1st century Judaea, to the Venetians and the Assassins of Alamut. The 1st century was the Century that lasted from 1 to 100 according the Julian calendar. Kingdom of Judea redirects here For the 10th-6th century BCE kingdom see Kingdom of Judah Iudaea ( Hebrew: יהודה Standard The Most Serene Republic of Venice ((Serenìsima Repùblica Vèneta or Repùblica de Venesia Serenissima Repubblica The Hashshashin (also Hashishin, Hashashiyyin, Hashasheen or Assassins) were an offshoot of the Ismā'īlī sect of Shia Alamūt ( Persian الموت "Eagle Peak" often appearing in the folk etymological form قلعه الموت Qal‘atu l-Mūt "the Castle of Death"

World War I

Trench knife

World War I created the need for stilettos, several versions were made by all countries often grouped together in one class nicknamed the trench knife. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Trench knives are either purpose-made weapons or are made from cut-down (shortened Bayonets or Swords and intended for close-quarter fighting the design originating

World War II

F-S

World War II saw a resurgence of the stiletto style in the form of several variants including the, U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto, Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife and V-42 combat knife. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The US Marine Raider Stiletto was a Stiletto issued to the Marine Raiders and 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion during World War II. The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife is a double-edged stiletto with a foil grip developed by William Ewart Fairbairn and Eric Anthony Sykes in The V-42 Stiletto was a Stiletto issued during World War II to the Devil's Brigade Commandos History In his book Allied However it should be noted that since these weapons can hold a cutting edge they are not true stilettos.

1950s folding knives

Collectors often refer to the handle and cross guard style found on Italian 1950's folding picklock switchblades as a Stiletto. Lock picking is the act of unlocking a lock by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device without the original key The blade options included dagger blades, clip points, bayonet points and wavy indonesian style kriss blades. Early 1950's stilettos had thick blades in proportion to the height and length, resembling the renaissance knife, making them desirable. Modern production italian knives of this style tend to have conventional thin flat blades, and are rarely hollow ground.

Colloquial Use

Many using American English are referring to a switchblade whose blade telescopes, an OTF knife "out the front" of the handle. Disputed article title An OTF Knife, also known as an out-the-front knife, Sliding Knife, or telescoping knife, is a Pocketknife with a A popular folding Switchblade is tang stamped "Rizzuto Estiletto Milano". The word stiletto has been applied to every blade imaginable , from boat propellers to safety razors. The word Stiletto was trademarked in the early 20th century for woodworking tools.

See also

• List of daggers
• Misericorde (weapon)