Genoese knife

The Genoese knife, which has its own unique style, was manufactured in the city of Genoa.

Some Genoese knives have a special shape, very similar to a dagger or stylet and are therefore prohibited. Especially actively used not only in the territory of the Republic of Genoa from the XVII to the XVIII centuries. Other knives of this type were a tool for work or everyday use, sometimes even included in the set along with an elegant dress, so they were on sale. Until today, for this type of knives are still stand out for their constructive properties. Wearing a Genoese knife can lead to arrest, since it is forbidden to wear and turnover.[1]

The existence of the Genoese knife itself is ambiguous, since it is both a useful tool in everyday life and a weapon that was easily used in combat, it is also necessary to take into account the rather low cost of the Genoese knife during manufacture. As in those days, and today, such a knife was made mainly by representatives of the criminal world.

In addition, some representatives of different sectors of society did not miss such an opportunity to forge, make copies and assign to other types of knives some features and elements of the Genoese knife,[2] and as it turned out, this activity develops very well. This contributed to the spread of Genoese knife samples in other parts of Italy, especially in Corsica, as there were found many specimens that clearly allow to determine the origin of the Genoese knife.[3]

Distinctive characteristics

The handle of the Genoese knife is usually without a guard, slightly asymmetrical in shape compared to the blade. Very often the handle is made of olive wood, sage or laurel, which was popular in the XVIII century in Genoa. In this case, the handle is called "perno" or "pernetto". The handle of the Genoese knife usually does not condense to increase the penetration and resistance at impact.[4]

There are different types of grips of the Genoese knife, in shape they can be too different from each other, both the material itself and the finish. So it's useless to try to find any "common factor" or distinctive characteristics. Also knife handles were made of metal, which is quite rare, especially the ivory knives. A unique specimen of the 18th century Genovese knife from ivory is represented in the collection of Butteen of the Medieval Arms Museum in Bologna, Lionello Shara. This Genoese knife was presented in the catalog in 1991.[5]

The shape of the blade of the Genoese knife can be both rectangular and elliptical, with pointed tip, and without a tip, as some categories, efficiency and purpose are also taken into account, both for kitchen work, and for sewing sails, leather, shipment of wagons and everything other things, including criminal use.[6][7]

Types of Genoese Knife

Among many types of Genoese knife, combines some repetitive features of style, shape, technical details that certainly allow you to recognize and appreciate this type of weapon and at the same time a tool in everyday life.

Depending on the shapes and types of blades and handles, Genoese knives come in the following forms:

  • knives canonical with a sharp tip or without a tip
  • with a finger rest (passacorda)
  • with double-finger stop (passacorda)
  • for throwing
  • with additional finger rest
  • with a secret blade
  • knife knives
  • decorated

Some specimens of Genoese knives may well belong to more than one of all varieties. However, the classification is not so categorical, since each kind of this knife lends itself to variable classification, including there are other ways of grouping and dividing.[8]

Using

Undoubtedly, these weapons are dangerous and can cause significant harm in a combat encounter with other weapons (for example, at the Tenth Council of the Most Serene Republic of Genoa, September 9, 1699, an announcement was made on the prohibition of the use of the Genoese knife in the port).[9]

Since the knife was banned, the genoese tried to hide their weapons in order to circumvent the laws of their City, under these prevailing conditions some elements of the Genoese knife's shape were modified. Masters of the Republic of Genoa began to produce a more "sharp knife", which began to be more appreciated by its owners. The references to the existence of this kind of Genoese knife and Knife art began to be much more often mentioned in documented and archival sources dating back to the second half of the 12th century.[10]

Genoa fencing contains a huge part of the technique of working with the Genoese knife.[11]

Literature
  • Mikhailova O. E., Shelkovnikov BA Western European weapons of the XV-XVII centuries, the State Hermitage. Art (publishing house), 1955. 40 p.
  • Repertoire of amateur performances, 1975
  • Romana di lesa maestà per la C. e F. contro Tommaso di Andrea Vivarelli … ristretto del processo informativo. Stato pontificio : Tribunale criminale supremo della Consulta, Stamp. della Rev. Cam. Apost., 1837. — P. 510 — 527 p.
  • Vocabolario domestico genovese-italiano: con un' appendice zoologica, Angelo Paganini, 1837 — 297 p.
  • Bastone Genovese, Coltello e Gambetto, Claudio Parodi. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012. — 240 p.
  • Miracoli della Madonna della Quercia di Viterbo e sua istoria con nuovo ordine ed aggiunta del padre F. Nicolo' Maria Torelli dell’Ordine de' predicatori, Nicolo' Maria Torelli. presso Camillo Tosoni, 1827. 238 p.
  • Primizie chirurgico-pratiche della cura delle ferite. Osservazioni e corollari di Gaetano Bartoli. All’Eccellenza del sig. Co. Filippo Hercolani. Gaetano Bartoli, per gli eredi di Bernardino Pomatelli impressori, 1714. — 95 p.
  • Miracoli della Madona della quercia di viterbo e sua istoria, Nicolo Maria Torelli, Poletti, 1725
  • L’arte del ferro nel Ducato Estense: decorazioni architettoniche e oggetti da collezione, Giorgio Boccolari, Calderini, 1996. 199 p.
  • Il segretario istruito, e Lettere di don Isidoro Nardi agl’illustrissimi signori marchesi Francesco e Gaspero Perez Verguero … parte prima, Том 1, 1700. — 288 p.
  • Compendio della Storia della … Imagine di Maria Santissima del buen consiglio, 1756
  • Genoa and the Genoese, 958—1528, Steven A. Epstein, Steven Epstein, University of North Carolina Press, 2001. — 396 p.
  • The Genoa Dialogues, J. Hayes Hurley, Lulu.com, 2014. — 158 p.
  • Crónicas de la mafia: Crónica negra, Íñigo Domínguez, Libros del K.O., 2015 — 431 p.
  • Il segretario principiante, ed istruito. Lettere moderne di D. Isidoro Nardi … Parte prima [- Parte seconda], Isidoro Nardi, presso Francesco Storti, 1739
  • Compendio istorico-cronologico della vita e miracoli del b. Giuseppe Calasanzio fondatore de' Cher. Reg. Pov. della Madre di Dio delle Scuole Pie scritto dal padre Vincenzio Talenti sacerdote dell’istess’Ordine, Vincenzo Talenti, nella stamperia di S. Michele per Ottavio Puccinelli(IS), 1748. — 200 p.
  • Das Schwert des Volkes: Geschichte, Kultur und Methodik des traditionellen, italienischen Messerkampfes, Roberto Laura, tredition, 2015. — 672 p.
  • Catalogo della armeria reale: illustrato con incisioni in legno, Armeria reale (Turin, Italy), Angelo Angelucci, G. Candeletti, 1890. — 614 p.
  • Guida del raccoglitore e dell ̕amatore di armi antiche, Jacopo Gelli, U. Hoepli, 1900. — 434 p.

Notes
  1. Il coltello genovese. STORIE DI LAME, DI ARMI PROHIBITE E DI «CARUGGI» di Andrea Buti — P. 9
  2. Il coltello genovese. STORIE DI LAME, DI ARMI PROHIBITE E DI «CARUGGI» di Andrea Buti — P. 17
  3. Das Schwert des Volkes: Geschichte, Kultur und Methodik des traditionellen, italienischen Messerkampfes, Roberto Laura, tredition, 2015. — Kapitel 1.3.2; 9.1; 10.2
  4. Il coltello genovese. STORIE DI LAME, DI ARMI PROHIBITE E DI "CARUGGI" di Andrea Buti — P. 11-12
  5. Catalogo della armeria reale: illustrato con incisioni in legno, Armeria reale (Turin, Italy), Angelo Angelucci, G. Candeletti, 1890 — P. 316-317
  6. Catalogo della armeria reale: illustrato con incisioni in legno, Armeria reale (Turin, Italy), Angelo Angelucci, G. Candeletti, 1890 — P. 316-317, 573
  7. Il coltello genovese. STORIE DI LAME, DI ARMI PROHIBITE E DI "CARUGGI" di Andrea Buti — P. 12-13
  8. Il coltello genovese. STORIE DI LAME, DI ARMI PROHIBITE E DI «CARUGGI» di Andrea Buti — P. 17-21
  9. Il coltello genovese. STORIE DI LAME, DI ARMI PROHIBITE E DI «CARUGGI» di Andrea Buti — P. 9
  10. Il Comune di Genova bollettino municipale mensile, Pagano — P. 485
  11. Il coltello genovese. STORIE DI LAME, DI ARMI PROHIBITE E DI «CARUGGI» di Andrea Buti — P. 9-15
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