British Naval Officer's Blue & Gilt Dirk

Jim McDougall · 22nd July 2016, 07:17 PM

OK, think I found something else important,
From "Naval Swords" , P.G. W. Annis, Stackpole Books, 1970, example 47

"...there is nothing about this weapon to indicate a connection to the sea, but the same is true of most 18th century dirks. As few army officers, British or American, seem to have worn dirks to any great extent as large numbers of naval officers did there is a strong presumption that these belonged to the latter".

I did find that while most of the examples shown in this reference did not have naval symbols nor royal cypher, but others did. The shallow lion head mask did appear on some as well, usually those with the cypher on blade, but anchor on scabbard.

One example had a situation with the letter G stamped on the blade near the forte, though the entire dirk was to the outfitter Salter as shown on scabbard locket. It is noted that the G represented the Gill family of blade makers in business 1774-1826.
While it might be tempting to align the G with that letter commonly used in Masonic symbolism, usually within the compass, it is noted here only as an interesting coincidence.

It would seem then, that naval insignia nor royal cypher were necessarily prerequisite on naval dirks, so the fact that these were inherently naval officers weapons stands as appropriate designator here. The Masonic symbolism in this early period on such a clearly naval weapon in such profusion only adds intrigue to its clear rarity.
While it would

22nd July 2016, 07:17 PM	#25
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,196	OK, think I found something else important, From "Naval Swords" , P.G. W. Annis, Stackpole Books, 1970, example 47 "...there is nothing about this weapon to indicate a connection to the sea, but the same is true of most 18th century dirks. As few army officers, British or American, seem to have worn dirks to any great extent as large numbers of naval officers did there is a strong presumption that these belonged to the latter". I did find that while most of the examples shown in this reference did not have naval symbols nor royal cypher, but others did. The shallow lion head mask did appear on some as well, usually those with the cypher on blade, but anchor on scabbard. One example had a situation with the letter G stamped on the blade near the forte, though the entire dirk was to the outfitter Salter as shown on scabbard locket. It is noted that the G represented the Gill family of blade makers in business 1774-1826. While it might be tempting to align the G with that letter commonly used in Masonic symbolism, usually within the compass, it is noted here only as an interesting coincidence. It would seem then, that naval insignia nor royal cypher were necessarily prerequisite on naval dirks, so the fact that these were inherently naval officers weapons stands as appropriate designator here. The Masonic symbolism in this early period on such a clearly naval weapon in such profusion only adds intrigue to its clear rarity. While it would