British Midshipman’s Naval Dress Dirk, c.1800.  This is a rarity indeed; the maker identified on the scabbard, engraved under the hilt, ‘Banks Plymouth Dock’.  As Officers and midshipmen carried these weapons throughout the Napoleonic Wars, we believe the finishing of this example suggests a pocket deeper than a Midshipman!   The ivory hilt is cross hatched with chain knucklebow, the back piece has a lion or seal head and the quillon has similar decoration; traces of gilt are visible.  The curved blade is 18 inches (22 1/2 inches in the scabbard to the hilt pommel) with uniform pitting and browning the entire length.  The leather scabbard is decorated Rose and Crown tooling and has brass fittings including the original suspension rings; there is a split near the tip above the brass end.