Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

M ELEY · 29th January 2008, 08:32 AM

Hmmm... As I stated in another post, I'm a collector of nautical Western items pre-1820. It does have the general appearance of a naval dirk from the blade and crossguard standpoint. I have one with a similar blade. The crossguard,hilt and pommel piece are not of the early 19th century, so Civil War is still a possibility. The blade looks older, though, making me wonder if this is a composite piece made with an older blade in newer fittings. Naval dirks fell out of favor shortly after the Fighting Sail era (1840's), but there are some reports that Confederate sailors still carried some. This isn't my area of expertise, but this might be one of these. I know it wasn't an "issued" piece in any case, as were the British midshipman's daggers of the earlier period.

29th January 2008, 08:32 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Hmmm... As I stated in another post, I'm a collector of nautical Western items pre-1820. It does have the general appearance of a naval dirk from the blade and crossguard standpoint. I have one with a similar blade. The crossguard,hilt and pommel piece are not of the early 19th century, so Civil War is still a possibility. The blade looks older, though, making me wonder if this is a composite piece made with an older blade in newer fittings. Naval dirks fell out of favor shortly after the Fighting Sail era (1840's), but there are some reports that Confederate sailors still carried some. This isn't my area of expertise, but this might be one of these. I know it wasn't an "issued" piece in any case, as were the British midshipman's daggers of the earlier period.