Mystery Blade

The curator of The Palace Amory of The Knight of Malta in Valetta –capitol of Malta – is uncertain of the origin of this knife.

One of the unique things about The Palace Amory is that virtually all the arms and armor in the collection can be traced back to their original owners, all Knights of Malta, and all of whom fought in the Siege of Malta (1565) a key battle in halting the Ottoman conquest of Europe. The rapiers, broadswords, sabers, the pistols, muskets and cannon, even the pole arms – every weapon in the museum was used in the defense of Malta, and Europe. Virtually all can be traced back to it’s owner and place of manufacture. But not this knife.

I have an appointment to meet with the current curator, and the previous curator who has retired after 30 years, and who the curator asked to meet with me. Perhaps he will know more. The curator also invited me to tour the workrooms where they maintain these medieval arms and offered to take from the cases anything we would like to handle and photograph. I’ll be seeing them in a couple of weeks. Should be interesting.

Can any of the knife guys out there indentify this blade’s place of origin?