Lot 2122

Description

Corsican Vendetta folding knife, 1800s, (approx 21cm closed and 39cm opened), single-sided straight blade, very sharp, on one side near fold is impressed, '76 Veritable Bernard', and along one side is etched in Italian, 'Vendetta Corsa', and on other side, 'Che la mia ferita sia mortale' (may all your wounds be mortal), the ivory handle is engraved with a floral design and the head of an African native wearing a head scarf. Fine.

76 Veritable Bernard was a trade mark of Besset Jarrige & Fils, a cutler based in Thiers in the centre of France. A similar knife was given to Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War II, possibly while he was in North Africa or after he had moved his headquarters to Reims.

No mail out for this lot, collection only from Sydney Office.