Stilletto

An assassin moves quickly in the night, his short blade stabs out, and he is on his way while his victim is still realizing he has been mortally wounded. A woman is receiving unwanted attention from a large, smelly man, and suddenly pulls a short blade from her gown or corset. If these scenes sound familiar to you, then you have probably seen the Stiletto in action on screen, or in the pages of historical or fantasy fiction.

The Stylet, or Stiletto originated in Italy during the 15th century. It is the smallest of daggers, easily concealed, lightest in weight, and ideal for surprise attacks. Not meant for dueling or slashing, these daggers were exclusively thrusting weapons, with a strong triangular sectional blade to aid in punching through armor and flesh. The dimensions of the stilettos made these daggers a favorite among criminals and assassins, though they were later popular for self defense. The dagger was easy to conceal, enabling assassins to follow their would be victims at close range without being spotted. This Stiletto is a reproduction from one on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts.