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#1 |
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 539
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Hi All,
I just got this little fella. Lovely Georgian Midshipman Dirk, (British Navy) in original scabbard. I taught it was something else when I purchased it in a job lot of mixed knives but I am happy for what it is. Seem to be a lot of variation on these but included here for reference. Overall 27 CM with blade of 18CM. Scabbard leather in perfect condition with brass fittings. Grip is ivory or bone and again in v good condition and nicely coloured, gilding remains on the brass on guard and other components of the handle. Initials on the top of grip but I cant really make them out. Made for very small hands but as midshipmen would have joined up at the age of 12 or so, this seems plausible. Hope you like it, I do anyway. Regards, Ken |
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#2 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,716
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Beautiful Naval dirk! Handle looks like bone or antler to my eyes! Me too! ![]() Regards, Detlef |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,087
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Great find, Ken! A really beautiful example of one of these! Could certainly be bone, but also ivory with a honey patina (this little guy probably dates 1790's-1805, Nelson's era.) Heck, some of these are made from walrus tusk, but I'd wager ivory...
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 252
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I remember reading somewhere that late 18 th century hilts often used mammoth ivory. Don't know how you tell the difference.
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 403
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Yes, mammoth ivory.
Definitely mammoth ivory. So much simpler. In UK anyway. Best wishes Richard |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 253
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Eastern Sierra
Posts: 426
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#8 | |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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