Collectors of stiletto knives tend to look for automatic knives today, but there were a wide variety of blades used in the past. The most popular of these grew out of the roundel dagger that was used as a sort of utility blade by knights and jousters. Though these knives more resembled spikes than modern blades, they were the first designs in a long lineage that gave us the modern stiletto.
Some collectors appreciate later styles, which are much closer to fixed-blade pieces of cutlery. These knives are very slender and usually could be easily fit into a small leather pouch. Since they still have some practical applications in the field, these stiletto knives have become common with those who need a light knife that still works well.
Automatic stilettos came about slightly later in history. When members of the general public say switchblade, they’re usually talking about this style of knife. Hollywood helped to make it famous, as did the press, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not useful in a wide variety of situations. Since they readily open with just a flick of the wrist, automatic stilettos are commonly used in situations where it wouldn’t be possible to open a larger blade. Individuals with accessibility issues also turn to them fairly regularly. Both of these groups have ensured that the stiletto has remained extremely visible in the otherwise crowded cutlery market.
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