MEDITERRANEAN PEASANT’S DAGGER

Late 18th century-1800. 4 5/8” wedge section slightly clipped point blade. Wood hilt with fine turned pommel. The grip sheathed in brass. Right side with seam slightly ridged for better purchase. Made without a guard as in many areas including some of the islands, peasants were not allowed to own knives with guards. Still, knife fighting was secondary to assassination by clandestine attack as with the vendettas which permeated those regions and in Corsica, accounted for the deaths of fully ten percent of the male population in the 18th century. Wonderful Mediterranean age patina as found on Italian furniture.