Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 20th July 2016, 08:07 PM

Guys, thank you for bringing this thread back!
Actually the notion that this is a naval officers dirk was probably simply because of the well established use of them in that context.
The animal head is indeed intended to be a lion head, in this configuration it corresponds to British infantry officers sabre hilts (M1803) and other military and naval hilts of the Georgian period.

Looking further into this, it would seem that this is most likely a dirk made specifically for a Freemason, and probably of the Order of Knights Templar.
While checking references on Freemasonry, in this case which are on the American aspects, in many if not most cases, the allegory and symbolism used in Freemasonry transcends nationality and other denominators.

From "Material Culture of the American Freemasons" (John D. Hamilton, 1994, p159): 'Knights Templar Dirk"
"...both real and false dirks were worn attached to a regalia baldric or sash as an insignia of the Templar Order. Real dirks were prescribed for regalia worn by Knights Templar only in certain commanderies".

With the numerous symbols on this blade, it would seem perhaps that either it was intended for an individual with achievements in a number of degrees or associations in various rites or steps. In most cases, there is a wide spectrum of perceptions held toward these symbols. For non Freemasons such as myself, it is often dangerous to try to offer meanings and definitive assessments of these. The very secretive nature of Masonry has lead to prolific writings and material which can mostly be regarded as speculative.

The grips on the hilt in ivory for example, have the familiar Palladian arch, which while an architectural feature of the Renaissance, and from a famed architect and Mason, also appeared in Georgian and Federal designs in other than Masonic cases.
The rest of the symbols on the blade are all profoundly Masonic, the cockerel represents the 'Cock of Resurrection' often placed with the 'Paschal Lamb' (as discussed earlier). While this was suggested to indicate French origin, I would note that in other cases the Paschal lamb was joined with French inspired regalia c.1797, on Scottish Rite aprons (op. cit. p112 , 4.22).

There were unbound connections between British, French and for that matter, American Masonic lodges in these times.

It is interesting to see the 'dirk' itself among the pastiche of symbols on the blade of this piece. It seems that symbol often occurs as well in certain degrees of the Scottish Rite. Other symbols such as skull and crossbones have more broad meaning in Masonic symbolism, as do the 'All Seeing Eye' which recalls the origins back to Solomon and Hiram Abiff etc.

In all, a most intriguing item of distinctively British Masonic regalia and as noted, Georgian period in early years of 19th c.

20th July 2016, 08:07 PM	#19
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,757	Guys, thank you for bringing this thread back! Actually the notion that this is a naval officers dirk was probably simply because of the well established use of them in that context. The animal head is indeed intended to be a lion head, in this configuration it corresponds to British infantry officers sabre hilts (M1803) and other military and naval hilts of the Georgian period. Looking further into this, it would seem that this is most likely a dirk made specifically for a Freemason, and probably of the Order of Knights Templar. While checking references on Freemasonry, in this case which are on the American aspects, in many if not most cases, the allegory and symbolism used in Freemasonry transcends nationality and other denominators. From "Material Culture of the American Freemasons" (John D. Hamilton, 1994, p159): 'Knights Templar Dirk" "...both real and false dirks were worn attached to a regalia baldric or sash as an insignia of the Templar Order. Real dirks were prescribed for regalia worn by Knights Templar only in certain commanderies". With the numerous symbols on this blade, it would seem perhaps that either it was intended for an individual with achievements in a number of degrees or associations in various rites or steps. In most cases, there is a wide spectrum of perceptions held toward these symbols. For non Freemasons such as myself, it is often dangerous to try to offer meanings and definitive assessments of these. The very secretive nature of Masonry has lead to prolific writings and material which can mostly be regarded as speculative. The grips on the hilt in ivory for example, have the familiar Palladian arch, which while an architectural feature of the Renaissance, and from a famed architect and Mason, also appeared in Georgian and Federal designs in other than Masonic cases. The rest of the symbols on the blade are all profoundly Masonic, the cockerel represents the 'Cock of Resurrection' often placed with the 'Paschal Lamb' (as discussed earlier). While this was suggested to indicate French origin, I would note that in other cases the Paschal lamb was joined with French inspired regalia c.1797, on Scottish Rite aprons (op. cit. p112 , 4.22). There were unbound connections between British, French and for that matter, American Masonic lodges in these times. It is interesting to see the 'dirk' itself among the pastiche of symbols on the blade of this piece. It seems that symbol often occurs as well in certain degrees of the Scottish Rite. Other symbols such as skull and crossbones have more broad meaning in Masonic symbolism, as do the 'All Seeing Eye' which recalls the origins back to Solomon and Hiram Abiff etc. In all, a most intriguing item of distinctively British Masonic regalia and as noted, Georgian period in early years of 19th c. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 20th July 2016 at 08:51 PM.