MEDITERRANEAN ASSASSIN’S DAGGER C.1750

4 ½” diamond section blade. Short iron cross guard shaped as finger stalls flanking the blade, which in combination with the broad palm rest pommel, style the knife as a push dagger which would be left embedded after the fatal thrust. That would require a skillful strike between the ribs and into the heart. The one piece horn grip would also serve in fighting if the initial attack failed, and is inlaid with a fine silver vignette of two frolicking doves on a branch with a quiver and arrows. That motif is an obvious reference to peace and love; typical black humor of the day.