Stiletto

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For the shoe design, see stiletto heel. For other uses, see Stiletto (disambiguation).
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A Venetian stiletto with a wooden grip.
A Venetian stiletto with a wooden grip.

A stiletto is a long, narrow-bladed dagger. This dagger is designed as a stabbing weapon, rather than for cutting, since its long narrow shape allows it to penetrate deeply in a point.

The stiletto began to gain fame during the Renaissance when it was popular as a tool against heavily armoured knights. The thin blade could easily pass through most chainmail, or find its way through tiny gaps in a knight's armour.

The stiletto was also favoured amongst assassins because it was an easily concealed weapon. This tactic occurred repeatedly, from the Zealots of 1st century Judaea, to the Venetians, to the Assassins of Alamut.

The word stiletto may sometimes be used in American English to refer to a switchblade, and is the origin of the term stiletto heel for a very thin, pointed heel on footwear.

Stiletto may also be used specifically for a knife exhibiting the same triangular cross-section and hollow grind as a small sword.

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