{"product_id":"renaissance-stiletto-16th-century-italian-blade-1095-steel-12","title":"Renaissance Stiletto - 16th Century Italian Blade - 1095 Steel- 12\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe stiletto is the needle of the Italian Renaissance: a slim, stiff blade of triangular cross-section drawn to a fine point, carried across 16th and 17th century Italy as a gentleman's sidearm and even adapted by artillery gunners as a measuring tool. This hand-forged Renaissance stiletto measures 12 inches overall, with a narrow triangular blade of 1095 high-carbon steel, a steel guard, and a hardwood grip. The blade is forged, heat treated, and hand finished by master smiths with a full tang for genuine battle-ready construction. All Battling Blades orders ship from our own warehouse in Illinois, and custom engraving is completed in-house before your stiletto leaves our facility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverall length:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e12 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade steel:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e1095 high-carbon, narrow triangular cross-section\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuard:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eSteel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrip:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHardwood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFull tang, battle-ready\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEngraving:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eOptional, completed in-house at our Illinois workshop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe 1095 High-Carbon Steel Blade\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade on this stiletto is forged from 1095 high-carbon steel, the classic workhorse of traditional blademaking. With roughly 0.95 percent carbon content, 1095 responds beautifully to heat treatment and delivers the hardness a stiletto's geometry demands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat geometry is what sets the stiletto apart from every other blade of its era. Rather than a flat blade with an edge, the stiletto is forged as a slim triangular section that tapers continuously to a needle point, a shape that makes it extraordinarily rigid for its slender profile. Our smiths forge that section in 1095, heat treat it for stiffness and resilience, and hand finish the facets to a clean polish. Each blade passes our four quality control checkpoints before it is fitted and shipped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistory of the Stiletto\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stiletto takes its name from the Italian stilo, itself from the Latin stilus, the pointed instrument Romans used to write on wax tablets. The blade emerged in Italy in the late 15th and 16th centuries as a refined, slender sidearm for the civilian gentleman, worn at the belt in an age when a man's blade was part of his dress. Its clean lines and jewel-like proportions made it as much an accessory of status as a piece of arms, and fine examples were fitted with turned, faceted, and inlaid hilts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stiletto also found a second life as a working instrument. Artillery gunners of the 17th century carried the fusetto or bombardier's stiletto, its blade engraved with graduated markings used to gauge powder charges and inspect cannon vents, one of history's more elegant examples of a blade doubling as a precision tool. The stiletto's name outlived the blade itself: the stiletto heel, slender and tapering to a point, is named directly after it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAnatomy of a Stiletto\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stiletto's construction is minimal by design, built from a handful of parts:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA narrow triangular cross-section tapering continuously to a fine point, the geometry that defines the type and gives a slender blade remarkable stiffness.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuard:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA short steel crossguard, far smaller than a sword's, keeping the profile slim.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrip:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA compact hardwood handle turned for a single hand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePommel:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe steel terminal that anchors the full tang and balances the piece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCraftsmanship and Quality\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Battling Blades stiletto is hand forged by master smiths through our direct workshop relationships, not mass produced. The 1095 blade is forged, heat treated, and finished by hand, then assembled with a full tang through the hardwood grip. This is battle-ready construction: a genuine forged blade built to the same standard as our swords, not a decorative casting. Custom engraving and etching are completed at our own facility in Illinois, so personalized orders never leave our quality control chain before shipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Renaissance Companion Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 12 inches, the stiletto is the natural companion to the rapier, the two blades of the Renaissance gentleman's wardrobe, and it completes an Italian arms display alongside a cinquedea or side sword. Its slim silhouette also makes it one of the most elegant desk and shelf pieces in our catalog, and an engraved one makes a distinctive gift for anyone drawn to the Italian Renaissance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is a stiletto?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA stiletto is a slender Renaissance-era Italian blade with a stiff, narrow cross-section, typically triangular, that tapers continuously to a fine point. It emerged in Italy in the late 15th and 16th centuries as a gentleman's sidearm and status piece, and its name comes from the Latin stilus, the Roman writing instrument.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is it called a stiletto?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe name is the Italian diminutive of stilo, from the Latin stilus, the pointed stylus Romans used to write on wax tablets, a fitting name for a blade shaped like a writing needle. The modern stiletto heel is in turn named after the blade, borrowing its slim, tapering profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this stiletto battle-ready?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. This stiletto features a hand-forged 1095 high-carbon blade with a full tang running through the hardwood grip. It is built to the same quality standard as our swords, with heat treatment and hand finishing at every step. It is a genuine forged blade, not a decorative casting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes the triangular blade have a cutting edge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the historical form, the stiletto's blade is a stiff triangular section drawn to a point rather than a flat, edged blade. The three facets are hand finished and meet in crisp lines, which is what gives the stiletto its distinctive needle-like appearance and rigidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat was the bombardier's stiletto?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 17th century, artillery gunners carried a version called the fusetto, its blade engraved with graduated scales used to measure powder charges and inspect cannon vents. It made the stiletto one of the few blades in history to serve as a precision instrument, and original gunner's stilettos are prized museum pieces today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long is this stiletto?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis stiletto measures 12 inches overall. Historical examples commonly ranged from about 9 to 14 inches, placing this piece squarely in the classic period size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is 1095 steel?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1095 is a high-carbon steel containing roughly 0.95 percent carbon. It is one of the most trusted steels in traditional blademaking because it hardens beautifully in heat treatment, which suits the stiletto's stiff, slender geometry especially well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between a stiletto and a rondel?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth are slim historical sidearms, but from different worlds. The rondel is the disc-hilted blade of the late medieval knight, broader and heavier in build, while the stiletto is the refined Italian Renaissance form, narrower and lighter with a small crossguard. Collectors usually pair the rondel with a longsword, and the stiletto with a rapier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I care for this blade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep the blade lightly oiled and store it in a dry environment. 1095 is a high-carbon steel and not stainless, so a thin coat of mineral oil after handling prevents rust and keeps the faceted finish bright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow quickly does it ship?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll Battling Blades orders ship from our own warehouse in Illinois, and most stilettos are in stock and ship promptly. If you add custom engraving, we complete it in-house, which adds minimal time to your order.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Battling Blades","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46780390506668,"sku":"2000050002","price":199.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2234\/4067\/files\/Stiletto.png?v=1784288956","url":"https:\/\/battlingblades.com\/products\/renaissance-stiletto-16th-century-italian-blade-1095-steel-12","provider":"Battling Blades","version":"1.0","type":"link"}