Windlass – French Model 1833 Naval Boarding Dirk / WW1 Trench Raid Stiletto

This French Naval Boarding Dirk has been carefully recreated from originals and is faithful in its reproduction of dimensions and material craftsmanship. The tri-fullered triangular blade is crafted from high carbon steel and the guardplate is brass. The tapered grip is deeply stained wood and the dirk is completed with a steel lanyard loop. Its accompanying scabbard is made from steel and its belt forg is tough canvas.

When socket bayonet blades fell out of use, the Manufacture d’armes de Châtellerault repurposed them into the Modèle 1833 Naval Boarding Dirk, issued to French naval forces. As naval gunnery advanced, edged weapons became obsolete, and these dirks were retired to storage. Decades later, during World War II, the French Army, needing a silent weapon for stealthy trench raids, pulled 10,500 of these dirks from reserves. Assigned to the four most steadfast soldiers in each squad, the dirk was a specialized tool. Its robust, triangular blade, akin to the Italian Renaissance stiletto, lacked a cutting edge and was designed solely for thrusting, ensuring swift, lethal strikes in close-quarters combat.