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Originally Posted by fearn
Hi Jim,
I've been looking at this one and mumbling a lot. The best story I can come up with--not a perfect one, is that it's an artilleryman's knife. Under this interpretation, the tip is there to clear the touch-hole, the cutouts are there as gauges for different diameter balls, for use in sorting them fast.
Best,
F
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Hi Fearn,
Thats some pretty good thinking with that mumbling (which I do a LOT!
and looks like we're pretty much on the same page. The fascine knives were indeed used by artillerymen for clearing brush to be bundled to line gun emplacements .
Your note on the use of a knife to clear touch holes is well placed as this was definitely something that needed attention, and actually the unusual stillettos termed 'bombardier stillettos' were carried by gunners of the Venetian army at one time. These had graduated lines with various numerical characters which were presumed to measure the bore of the guns for ammunition, as well as often suggesting measuring powder charge, with it remaining unclear which or of both were correct.
It was illegal for civilians to carry weapons in these times in the Republic of Venice (which included inland Brescia) and often weapons were disguised as these military use examples to account for thier being carried, and the user claimed military attachment.
These stillettos had a needle like blade which fit into the touch hole, and actually served to 'spike' the gun to render it unservicable if capture was imminent.
While the bombardier stillettos seem to have faded from use, these fascine knives remained in use well into the 19th century. Unsure why the undulating edge blade on this one, but it seems many forms of sickle etc. had these kind of blades to increase cutting surface for slashing through vegetation etc.
The cutouts do seem to favor cannon ball sizes though.
Im glad to have someone else who gets as puzzled by these curious ones as much as I do!
and its fun to share ideas!!!
Thank you Fearn,
All the best,
Jim