Hi Jim
,
I believe that the 'gunners stiletto' was issued as a last ditch weapon in case the artillary positions were over-run. I also know that the markings on the blades had various meanings and were not necessailly 'standardised'.
and were often used to clear cannon-fuse touch holes.
Many were scribed with marks indicating levels of powder charges (think car engine dip stick)
Some were marked off with a scale for converting the bore of the gun into the weight of the shot required
Others also had scales to calculated trajectory angles
http://webprojects.prm.ox.ac.uk/arms...n/1884.24.216/
Regards David