Misericorde Spanish Dagger, Circa 1520

This dagger was unearthed near Tampa Bay in the early 1960s. The 11 3/4 inch needle-point blade has a hollow ground cross-section. The crossguard with its triangular-shaped quillons and the pommel are both decorated with deep accent grooves. Long narrow daggers like this one are designed for thrusting, piercing and stabbing. The thin sharp point can fit through gaps in armor and penetrate leather or heavy fabric. This style of dagger was often used to deliver the death blow to a seriously wounded adversary, hence the name misericordia which is Latin for "mercy". (1) .

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