An Assassin's Knife

Kitchen knife bought by Johan Jacob Anckarström in Brita Christina Wanselius’ shop. Anckarström’s intention was to use the knife if his pistols misfired when trying to kill King Gustav III. Anckarström filed the notch at the edge to make the knife more deadly. He also stained the handle black and glued a piece of taffeta (now gone) around the knife. When he carried it, it resembled a black baton. At the opera ball Anckarström failed to use the knife and he dropped it at the scene of the crime.