18th century Gunners Stilleto?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Excellent perspective Fernando, the monogram truly does not match the gun position idea, and a 'rack number' seems possible. It seems often naval weapons were 'racked' on board until they were dispensed as required.
Like Stu, I have difficulty discerning fluorished letters as seem in this ligature.

Im not sure the crenallations would be for spiking a gun aboard ship in the same way as in onland gun emplacements, they could not abandon the cannon without effectively leaving the ship. A ship was not abandoned unless it was sinking, in which case it would be a moot point.

I still wonder if these might serve some other utilitarian maritime use.

One thing everyone agrees with; the scoops are there for some use ... they are hardly a decoration, right?

And one question: why necessarily a maritime dagger? just because the mountings are in brass, it is not obliging, is it?