Unknown Venezian(?) "marine" dagger

[fearn]

Hi Billman,

There's one of these corn knives for sale in a local hardware store. It's a simple bar of steel, one edge sharpened, with a handle on the other end. It's been there awhile, in part because no one grows corn around here, in part because machetes are cheaper and more versatile (and hanging on the next hook over). I have no idea why they have it.

Best,

F

[Billman]

I guess corn knives are still made because the small scale (homestead) farmer prefers this tool to a machete... being a little narrower and lighter, it probably requires a little less energy to swing. After a few days cutting corn, the difference would become noticeable....

On a large scale a combine harvester is now used - but in parts of Italy, the Balkans and Eastern Europe there are still thousands of small scale 'subsistence' farmers.

Manufacturers only make tools, and hardware stores stock them, if there is a market.... The ones you have seen could be old stock, but I guess some firms are still making them...

My hypothesis, still requires proof - one way or another..... but I remain biased towards it being an agricultural tool....

[Dmitry]

I believe I know from whence the wind is blowing regarding the attribution as a Venetian boarding weapon.
This piece is in the Higgins Armory Museum collection, which had been attributed by someone as a 16th c. Venetian boarding sword, an attribution I, personally, find curious, but unlikely.

[Billman]

The Higgins' boarding sword looks like a one-off butchered sword - the vee shaped notches would stop rigging ropes sliding off the blade, but to be honest they do not look sharp enough to actually do the job in one stroke...