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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 403
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These came up for sale recently in the UK. Described as midshipmens' dirks, and of a type usually described as such. But these are marked, which would indicate they were not in private ownership, but rather part of a store or inventory.
Any ideas? Best wishes Richard |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,061
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More of a hanger than a dirk I would say. It would make a very nice bandsman's sword!
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#3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,085
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I agree with David that this is more of a short hanger versus a dirk. As you point out, most midshipmen's dirks were 'private purchase' for officers and not marked (as far as I know!) for the ship or rack number, etc. Although I feel strongly yours is a probably a naval piece, many of the short hangers of this type had equal distribution to both naval and infantry units.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 403
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Thank you both for your comments.
They are not actually mine. I agree they are more hanger than dirk, and bandsman's sword is certainly a possibility. The scabbards have a 'Parker Field police hanger' look about them and i wonder if they could have been for use by law enforcement of some sort. Dockyard watchmen; that sort of thing. Best wishes Richard |
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#5 | |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,868
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It is well known that there were quasi military/law enforcement groups that patrolled docks to guard the valuable commodities at hand while being loaded onto vessels. As these were privately organized and controlled it makes sense that higher end weapons like this would be among these. |
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