Stiletto

For other uses, see Stiletto (disambiguation)}}}.

A Venetian stiletto with a wooden grip.

A stiletto is a long, narrow-bladed dagger. The word is also sometimes 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 women's footwear.

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 armored knights. The thin blade could easily pass through most chainmail, or find its way through tiny gaps in a knight's armor.

In addition, the stiletto was favored amongst assassins, because it was an easily concealed weapon that would fit easily up a sleeve or under a cloak or coat. The phrase "cloak and dagger," though, actually refers to a style of fighting in which the combatants use thick clothing to impede the opponent's use of his weapon.

The killer would dress in common clothes, so as not to stand out, which would make him easily forgettable. He would then walk up to his target in a crowded place like a market and, once beside the target, the killer would quickly and nonchalantly stab his victim, and be on his way, before anyone was certain what had happened. This tactic occurs repeatedly, from amongst the Venetians to the Assassins of Alamut, or with the Zealots of 1st century CE Palestine.

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