Italy, Republic. A Military Academy at Modena & Schools of Military Medicine Student's Dagger c. 1950s

Dagger with a polished nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with dull edges and a dull tip, both edges bevelled on both sides, the ricasso maker marked "F.lli TURCO NAPOLI" on the reverse, the blade exhibiting marks and surface wear common to extraction from the scabbard and measuring 205 mm in length. The crossguard and handle in gilt metal, the crossguard bearing images of arrows and crossed flags on its obverse, the reverse of the crossguard with images of a cannon and an infantry rifle, the handle designed with leafing throughout, with embedded mother-of-pearl ribbed synthetic plates on either side, the dagger finished with a screwed-in pommel bearing a lion's head, the dagger measuring 377 mm in length overall. The accompanying scabbard in gilt metal, both bands designed with leafing, as is the chape, each of the bands incorporating rings, finished with a ribbed and pointed finial, the obverse body of the scabbard inscribed "VNA ACIES" within a rectangular frame between the top ring and the throat, the Military Academy trophy-of-arms insignia between the two bands, the reverse of the body with the Italian eagle insignia within a rectangular frame between the top ring and the throat, measuring 275 mm in length. Both the dagger and scabbard exhibit light contact and scattered gilt wear, better than very fine.