GENOESE KNIFE PASSACORDA

ITALY, c. 1750–1780

As the city rules of Genoa didn’t allow carrying daggers publicly, but needles for sewing ship sails were allowed, became the ‘passacorda’ knives with a pierced blade tip very popular in all Italian marine cities. This particular knife has a blade with a wide fuller and strengthening on the tip for piercing jackets or ‘sails’. The handle is made of gilt copper alloy decorated with an extremely finely chiseled lion head. The whole handle is depicting a naval ram known from the ancient Roman galleys. The angle of the handle is not straight with the blade turned slightly but this seems to be intentionally designed. The original wooden scabbard, covered with shark skin, is damaged with a split in the front.

• Total length 26 / 25 cm
• Blade length 14 cm