Venice, 1480-1500, Cinquedea
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Cinquedea Place of origin: Venice, Italy Date: 1480 - 1500 Marks and inscriptions '... INVS' '... VALAR' A cinquedea is a large dagger with a double-edge triangular blade very wide at the hilt and fluted in straight lines from the hilt towards the point. The quillons (crossbars to guard the hand) are short and curve slightly towards the blade. The name cinquedea is derived from the width of the blade which was supposed to be five fingers wide at the hilt. The cinquedea was a civilian sword carried horizontally at the back in a belt and housed in a leather or cloth-covered scabbard. It was placed horizontally so that it could be drawn easily by the right hand. It was used primarily as a thrusting w