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What is being offered is a late 18th to mid 19trh century officer\'s dirk, or as was called, and English wakizashi (compact sword).
Midshipmen and Officers were expected to lead and take partin the action, and often they fought alongside their cutlass-swinging comrades. The Officers of the British, American andFrench navies all favored the straight Spadroon swords in the years spanningthe American Revolution up through the Napoleonic Wars. Many would carry amatching dirk, such as the one presented here, as a secondary weapon for fighting in close quarters belowdeckswhere there was little room for the effective use of longer blades. Flintlockweapons often misfired at sea, and many boarding actions were decided in brutalclose combat with swords, dirks, pikes and axes – all on a cluttered, pitchingdeck.
This Officers 5-Ball Dirk, so named for the guard, has ablade of sharpened high carbon steel. The guard and pommel are made of brass, andthe grip is made of faux ivory. It comes with a scabbard of black leather with brassaccents and hanging rings. A handsome Dirk such as this would not only be afighting tool for the British or American Officer, but an eye-catching part ofhis uniformed regalia when ashore.
