Buttafuori ad Alette, Milan, c. 1590, signed Al sengo de Gato

Total length when extended: 2170 mm (85.43 inches)
Length shaft (without lid): 1300 mm (51.18 inches)
Length central blade (visible part): 870 mm (34.25 inches)
Length parrying blades (visible part): 210 mm (8.27 inches)
Weight: 2740 g (96.65 ounces)

Provenance
- Bachereau à Paris
- c. 1903: William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor auf Hever Castle
- Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor
- William Waldorf Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor and Astor family
- 1983: Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co: The Hever Castle Collection. The Property of the Lord Astor of Hever.

Function and usage
The Buttafuori is a weapon that hides one or three blades inside the shaft in the normal state, in order to camouflage its nature as a weapon. By exerting a powerful and fitful horizontal movement the bearer makes the blades exit suddenly. After extending to their full length they are locked in position so the weapon is ready to be used. The type with three blades is called Buttafuori ad Alette, where this particular example belongs to.

Until today in the literature differing hypotheses have been discussed about the question who bore this weapon and for which purposes it was used for. Also the denominations have been quite confusing. Dondi and Cartesegna more