Found on the south Florida gulf coast and purchased at a Naples dive shop in the 1990s. Forged iron blade, 5 1/4" length of elegant form with acutely angled point and thumb spur with original suspension ring opposite. Wedge section is a slashing weapon only, not intended as a work knife as demonstrated by its thin section. Stable excavated condition with Plexiglas display mount. During the period, merchant and military sailors were largely held against their will and not allowed knives with points. Pirates were generally free and even allowed to vote on the affairs of the ship and crew and carried pointed fighting knives like this.
