These dirks would have been carried by Royal Navy as well as merchant marine officers, even, rather more rarely, by army officers. This classic dirk has a whalebone haft (which, at first glance, might appear to be of walrus ivory, but on closer inspection is definitely whale bone) and iron mounts. The style of hilt, pommel and grip dates it.
The blade is nearly 16" long with a strong diamond-section shape, almost certainly made from a shortened sword blade. The hilt is a little loose with age, but could easily be tightened up with a small piece of clock spring or some such.
The traditional construction of the blade (in two pieces: iron tang and steel blade) shows up very clearly as the iron 'sandwich' has aged in a different way to the steel blade. When the smith put blade and tang together the tang would have been red hot and the steel blade enclosed in the iron 'sandwich'.
There is medium grey patina all over the iron guard and mounts. The point has been re-profiled at some stage, perhaps in its working life.
If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.
[Edged Weapons : Dirks : British : 18th Century]
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