Item:
ONJR23MAB039

Original Mexican Revolution Era Pre-WWI Mexican Naval Cadet Eagle Head Dirk With Scabbard

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a seldom seen Naval Dirk as worn by Cadets with the Universidad Militar Latinoamericana Mexico in the years leading up to WWI, and was seen being worn up into and after the WWII era. We believe this example to be a Pre WWI (1910) era dirk.

A thrusting weapon, the naval dirk originally functioned as a boarding weapon and as a functional fighting dagger. During the days of sail, midshipmen and officers wore dirks; the daggers gradually evolved into ceremonial weapons and badges of office. In the Royal Navy, the naval dirk is still presented to junior officers; the basic design of the weapon has changed little in the last 500 years.

Overall a nice example with an 18” nickel-plated steel blade, magnetic, with unsharpened edges, remaining bright and crisp with just a few areas of staining. The blade is unmarked but these were mostly made in Solingen, Germany with Eickhorn being a known maker. The obverse center block has the Mexican eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a snake in the center below by a small trophy of arms. The reverse of the crossguard has a blade release button, with hand enhanced acorns on either end of the S shaped crossguard. Above the crossguard is a bronze ferrule with an ivory-coloured celluloid grip, which is smooth, very lightly contacted, with seven rows of tightly wrapped twisted bronze wire in the grooves. The pommel is designed with an ornately crafted eagle's head, with a large ring placed through the beak.

The black leather-wrapped scabbard has a brass chape and locket, each with an ornate design. There is an elaborate frog stud on the obverse marked with UMLA for the “Universidad Militar Latinoamericana”. The scabbard is in wonderful condition but due to the leather shrinkage, the stapes holding the brass hardware have become quite loose.

A fine example of a Naval dirk that is growing increasingly difficult to find in today’s market. Comes more than ready for further research and display.

Specifications:
Blade length: 17 7/8”
Blade Style: Spear Point Dirk
Overall length: 23”
Cross guard: 4"
Scabbard Length: 18 1/2"

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