La Mozzetta - south Italian cutting tools

The MOZZETTA is a pocket knife that has a blunted tip. The purpose was to obtain a suitable knife to be use only for cutting, that can be carried more freely than a pointed knife, in a period in which the laws had become increasingly restrictive.

These knives are also known as "permitted by the law". The reference (also stamped on the blade: PERMESSO DALLA LEGGE Regolamento P.S. N. 62/81 ) is the Giolitti Law of 1908, which allowed to carry freely knives with blades up to 10 cm length only with blunt points.

Because of it similarities to a straight razor is also called "Rasolino".

Note: Coltello "Innesto" seems to be the same on the first look, but is a grafting knife with a single beveled edge.

The use as a weapon is also (almost!) identical to the straight razor and resamples the basic movement of the stick (see Bastone Napoletano). This method focuses on wide, fast cuts while trying to keep distance.

 

 

 "Avere il miele in bocca e il rasoio alla cintola." 

The razor as a weapon has an even worse reputation than the knife because it was mostly used for treacherous murder rather than for self-defense or an honorable duel. It is easy to hide and is not considered a weapon in general... so in Italy, especially because of the ban on carrying knives in urban areas, it was not unusual for certain groups of people to carry a razor. It was a valuable possession and was often passed down from father to son over generations. As a symbol of masculinity and the family, it was therefore predestined to fight disputes of honor.

 

"sfregiati" Naples 1907

The razor enjoys the greatest cult status in Naples. Especially as a weapon of the Camorristas and in connection with the "sfregio"... the mark of shame. In Naples, the razor remained the "pimp's weapon" per-se until the 1970s.