Question Re: Sheffield/Birmingham/Edinburgh maker's marks

Norman McCormick · 30th January 2010, 09:44 PM

Hi Chris,
This dirk has me a bit puzzled. As Jim has mentioned the blade profile is not at all typical and despite having seen lots of dirks I have not seen one similar. Are you able to disassemble the piece, I would think the tang is threaded and there might just be more clues hidden there. Of course we Scots are notoriously prudent and many dirk blades are made from recycled swords etc. perhaps this is a recycled 19/20thC dagger blade although it is a bit on the long side for a dagger blade but short for a dirk blade. Interesting enigma.
My Regards,
Norman.

laEspadaAncha · 30th January 2010, 11:12 PM

Hi Norman,

Thank you for your response. When I saw the tang was not peened over the pommel button, the first thing I did when I took delivery of it was to try to unscrew it, thinking, as you, that the tang might indeed be threaded. It is not. I can apply a fair amount of torque bare-handed as it is, but do not get so much as a hint of movement even with my best efforts. Even using steel vice grips over a protective cotton cloth, all I managed to due was to give the equatorial bulge of the not-quite spherical pommel a nice friction polish!

I presume I could try to latch on to the pommel button directly with the vice grips and give it a go, but given the pliability and malleability of brass, I would rather not, as I would not want to permanently scar or otherwise mark up the brass. I am however left with the distinct impression the pommel button is not threaded onto the tang... I could be wrong, but I can apply quite a bit of torque - especially with the vice grips.

The idea of a recycled sword blade has occurred to me, and the Scottish BHBS I own (dating to ca. 1790-1802), like this dirk, is double edged and tapers lightly and evenly to the point. However the sword blade differs from the dirk in that it has no discernible medial ridge (as well as a central fuller running half the length of the blade).

Best Regards,

Chris

30th January 2010, 09:44 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,613	Hi Chris, This dirk has me a bit puzzled. As Jim has mentioned the blade profile is not at all typical and despite having seen lots of dirks I have not seen one similar. Are you able to disassemble the piece, I would think the tang is threaded and there might just be more clues hidden there. Of course we Scots are notoriously prudent and many dirk blades are made from recycled swords etc. perhaps this is a recycled 19/20thC dagger blade although it is a bit on the long side for a dagger blade but short for a dirk blade. Interesting enigma. My Regards, Norman.

30th January 2010, 11:12 PM	#2
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Hi Norman, Thank you for your response. When I saw the tang was not peened over the pommel button, the first thing I did when I took delivery of it was to try to unscrew it, thinking, as you, that the tang might indeed be threaded. It is not. I can apply a fair amount of torque bare-handed as it is, but do not get so much as a hint of movement even with my best efforts. Even using steel vice grips over a protective cotton cloth, all I managed to due was to give the equatorial bulge of the not-quite spherical pommel a nice friction polish! I presume I could try to latch on to the pommel button directly with the vice grips and give it a go, but given the pliability and malleability of brass, I would rather not, as I would not want to permanently scar or otherwise mark up the brass. I am however left with the distinct impression the pommel button is not threaded onto the tang... I could be wrong, but I can apply quite a bit of torque - especially with the vice grips. The idea of a recycled sword blade has occurred to me, and the Scottish BHBS I own (dating to ca. 1790-1802), like this dirk, is double edged and tapers lightly and evenly to the point. However the sword blade differs from the dirk in that it has no discernible medial ridge (as well as a central fuller running half the length of the blade). Best Regards, Chris