Cold Steel Naval Dirk: Origin of Design?

kronckew · 13th October 2010, 06:23 PM

early dirk: came in a variety of styles.

don't think cold steel ones are stamped, tho someone could etch or stamp afterwards.

the photo of the other side is also unstamped.

more standardised victorian dirks looked like this one, 1891 pattern. widely reproduced - may even still be in production. earlier one looked a lot like this (1879 pattern is nearly identical)

Atlantia · 13th October 2010, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

early dirk: came in a variety of styles.

don't think cold steel ones are stamped, tho someone could etch or stamp afterwards.

more standardised victorian dirks looked like this one, 1891 pattern. widely reproduced - may even still be in production.

Hi Mate,
This one definately looks like the Cold Steel one. Wondered how to be sure its not a modern one aged up is all. No stamps of any kind on it that I could see. definately dark horn grips, never wire bound.
Hmmmm.
Not somewhere where I could really take pictures.

Dmitry · 13th October 2010, 06:51 PM

This what the dirk on the first photo is based upon, a popular form from the mid-1790s to ca.1810.
Sometimes there is 'cigar band' around the waist of the grip, which is engraved with a fouled anchor, which, understandably, adds a factor of desirability to collectors.
Both pieces are in my collection.

Atlantia · 13th October 2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

This what the dirk on the first photo is based upon, a popular form from the mid-1790s to ca.1810.
Sometimes there is 'cigar band' around the waist of the grip, which is engraved with a fouled anchor, which, understandably, adds a factor of desirability to collectors.
Both pieces are in my collection.

Thats a beauty Dmitry! (5 Ball to match the sword?)
Any with smooth horn grips that you know of?

Dmitry · 13th October 2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Thats a beauty Dmitry! (5 Ball to match the sword?)
Any with smooth horn grips that you know of?

Not horn, but ebony. Horn wasn't used much, if at all, by the English,for grips on their swords and dirks, at least during the Napoleonic period.
As a matter of fact, ebony-gripped dirks are rarer than the bone/ivory ones.

Atlantia · 13th October 2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

Not horn, but ebony. Horn wasn't used much, if at all, by the English,for grips on their swords and dirks, at least during the Napoleonic period.
As a matter of fact, ebony-gripped dirks are rarer than the bone/ivory ones.

Hi Dmitry,
Thanks for the help. Thats the thing, this definately had horn grips.
Hmmm.

13th October 2010, 06:23 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	early dirk: came in a variety of styles. don't think cold steel ones are stamped, tho someone could etch or stamp afterwards. the photo of the other side is also unstamped. more standardised victorian dirks looked like this one, 1891 pattern. widely reproduced - may even still be in production. earlier one looked a lot like this (1879 pattern is nearly identical) Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 13th October 2010 at 06:54 PM.

13th October 2010, 06:51 PM	#3
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	This what the dirk on the first photo is based upon, a popular form from the mid-1790s to ca.1810. Sometimes there is 'cigar band' around the waist of the grip, which is engraved with a fouled anchor, which, understandably, adds a factor of desirability to collectors. Both pieces are in my collection. Attached Images