British or American Dirk

Marcus · 16th February 2015, 03:36 PM

Mark,
Thanks for your reply. It corresponds to my thoughts on the item almost exactly.
Marcus

fernando · 16th February 2015, 04:20 PM

And what is the blade length, by the way ?

Richard G · 16th February 2015, 09:58 PM

Something odd about the hammered nut on the pommel. A Sheffield, or any British, manufacturer would never have got away with such crude fixing.
Regards
Richard

ChrisPer · 17th February 2015, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G

Something odd about the hammered nut on the pommel. A Sheffield, or any British, manufacturer would never have got away with such crude fixing.
Regards
Richard

It could be a later repair, also.

Marcus · 16th February 2015, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

And what is the blade length, by the way ?

The blade is 9 inches, the handle only 3.

The pommel nut was one reason I was betting American over English.

fernando · 17th February 2015, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus

The blade is 9 inches, the handle only 3...

A very small example indeed ... with an extremely short handle.

Will M · 17th February 2015, 02:58 PM

it's the grooving of the grip that is not symmetrical that gives it a less refined appearance. The measurements suggest a Victorian era letter opener.

fernando · 17th February 2015, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will M

... The measurements suggest a Victorian era letter opener.

Yes, why not ?

kronckew · 17th February 2015, 05:55 PM

saw a similar one on a google search, no dimensions tho.

3in. grip on yours is short, as noted maybe it broke off and was field repaired at that length?

in the 1800's they went to a larger, longer standard pattern middies dirk with a back strapped rayskin grip. prior to that it would have been a private purchase item of various size and quality depending on the new officer's purse. the midshipman's ages varied from pre-teens to grey haired and bitter men who had failed their exams for promotion to lieutenant. stuck halfway between the common ratings up forward and the real ossifers aft they were truly mid ship men.

this one attached from google images was noted as 1750-1770 british naval dirk, it appears to have a similarly etched blade too. it is missing the black bands of grunge accumulated in the grooves on the one in post no. 1.

16th February 2015, 03:36 PM	#1
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	Midshipman Mark, Thanks for your reply. It corresponds to my thoughts on the item almost exactly. Marcus

17th February 2015, 05:55 PM	#9
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	saw a similar one on a google search, no dimensions tho. 3in. grip on yours is short, as noted maybe it broke off and was field repaired at that length? in the 1800's they went to a larger, longer standard pattern middies dirk with a back strapped rayskin grip. prior to that it would have been a private purchase item of various size and quality depending on the new officer's purse. the midshipman's ages varied from pre-teens to grey haired and bitter men who had failed their exams for promotion to lieutenant. stuck halfway between the common ratings up forward and the real ossifers aft they were truly mid ship men. this one attached from google images was noted as 1750-1770 british naval dirk, it appears to have a similarly etched blade too. it is missing the black bands of grunge accumulated in the grooves on the one in post no. 1. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 17th February 2015 at 06:13 PM.

16th February 2015, 04:20 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	And what is the blade length, by the way ?

16th February 2015, 09:58 PM	#3
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 411	Something odd about the hammered nut on the pommel. A Sheffield, or any British, manufacturer would never have got away with such crude fixing. Regards Richard

17th February 2015, 02:58 PM	#7
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 395	it's the grooving of the grip that is not symmetrical that gives it a less refined appearance. The measurements suggest a Victorian era letter opener.