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THBFIGHTING DIRK OF WAR OF 1812 NAVAL HERO WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE Overall length: 15-1/2 inches; blade: 11-3/8 in. L x 1 1/6 W at forte A ...
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About Auction
LiveOct 19, 2019
Inaugural Sale of the Mars and Neptune Trust Nadeau's Auction Gallery info@nadeausauction.com
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- Lot Description
FIGHTING DIRK OF WAR OF 1812 NAVAL HERO WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE Overall length: 15-1/2 inches; blade: 11-3/8 in. L x 1 1/6 W at forte A unique American naval fighting dirk associated with War of 1812 naval hero Commodore William Bainbridge (1774-1833) that is both highly decorative, yet extremely practical and lethal as a combat weapon. By the beginning of the 19th century, preference among naval officers shifted from a long, straight-bladed dirk to one with a curved blade--far more practical for the frenzied "hack-and-slash" fighting that typified boarding actions. By the War of 1812, the typical American fighting dirk featured a long, curved blade without fullers that ended in a "trail-point" or "trailing-point" tip to it, in that the blade has a back edge that curves upward to end above the spine. This allows a relatively lightweight dirk achieve a larger curve on its edge and indeed the whole of the knife blade was curved in an upwards arc. Such a dirk is optimized for slicing or slashing, providing a larger cutting area or "belly". Close study of the blade of this Bainbridge dirk reveals that it probably was originally of this form and an inch or so longer, but that the original tip was probably altered to a spear-point. While a spear-point did allow for more effective stabbing with this dirk (and it may be why it was so altered), the more likely reason is that the tip had been snapped off in use, so grinding down the blade to achieve the original trail-point tip would have resulted in loss of at least an additional inch or two of blade length, and thus, a spear-point tip was the logical choice in order to preserve the maximum blade length. The hilt of the dirk consists of a ribbed, grip with two strands of fine, twisted, copper wire in the channels, with a gilt-brass, backstrap that is faceted for its first 2/3ds length, then feathered before its terminates in an eagle-head pommel. The shape of the eagle-head is an uncommon form and closely resembles two other naval examples known to this researcher. The first is that found on the sword presented to by the City of New York to Captain Jacob Jones of the U.S. Navy (for his gallantry during the 1812 capture of the British sloop-of-war Frolic by his sloop, the Wasp) made by New York gold- and silversmith John Targee; the second is a c. 1810 silver-mounted eagle-head pommel saber sculpted by New York silversmith Christoper Giffing. All three pommels feature an uplifted head without top crest, open beak, and a pronounced brow above the eyes, all clearly influenced by a similar "pigeon" headed (or Type 4) eagle with open beak that has been attributed to noted London cutler John Salter. The Bainbridge dirk's eagle, however, holds a ring within its open beak, from which a brass chain extends, joining another loop attached to the lower quillon or finial of the open S (or "reversed-quillon") crossguard, also of gilded brass. Both of the finials or quillons are shaped like circular medallions, bearing sculpted floral devices in their centers, nearly the same as the decorative medallions found on the knuckle-bow of the Jones sword. The cross-guard has shield-shaped langets sculpted with oak leaves. While the overall form of the dirk closely resembles known examples made for the American market by London and Birmingham cutlers, the rather austere etching on the blade suggests that, although influenced by English design, both the blade and hilt may actually be the product of American artisans, as with the Targee and Giffing eagle-head swords noted above. It is the etched decorations of the blade, however, that make this dirk a unique and important historical piece. The obverse face of the blade bears a long, central scroll upon which is inscribed, 'BAINBRIDGE and ye. NAVY', perhaps commemorating Commodore William Bainbridge's 29 December 1812 victory over the British frigate Java while in command of the U.S. frigate Constitution. The reverse bears a central panoply of arms with an American flag rising from its center, flanked above and below by floral sprays. These etched decorations, blued and gilded, originally extended approximately 2/3ds of the blade's original length on both sides. In the collections of the New York Historical Society is another dirk, a hilted, dress dirk with a shorter, straight blade of diamond profile, but etched by the same hand and in a similar manner: the obverse scroll in this case the motto, 'LAWRENCE and ye. NAVY'. It was donated by a descendant of Captain James Lawrence, mortally wounded during the Chesapeake-Shannon battle of 1 June 1813 and almost certainly relates to Lawrence's earlier exploit in the war, in which his sloop-of-war Hornet fought and sunk the British sloop Peacock on 24 February 1813. The Bainbridge dirk, when originally sold in 2009, came with other Bainbridge memorabilia (since dispersed) and with a family association. The Bainbridge and Lawrence dirks are the only ones known to exist that bear blades naming War of 1812 American naval heroes and appear to be unique blades, probably intended as presentation pieces to the two respective heroes, through whom the maker anticipated receiving the patronage of other naval officers by virtue of this visual publicity mechanism. Whether or not the instance of the Bainbridge dirk's fabrication and commission can be fully identified in future, it remains a unique and important artifact associated with one of the most important naval heroes of the War of 1812, as well as the most famous ship in American history, 'Old Ironsides', the USS Constitution. Provenance: William Bainbridge and by descent in Princeton, NY branch of family; private collection, 2009-present. Condition: the brass mounts of the hilt retain approximately 90% or more of its original gilding, but there is a small chip to the grip at the juncture with the pommel on each side, as well as a tiny one at the juncture of the backstrap and the ferrule on the obverse, just behind the crossguard; the remnants of the bluing now appear as bluish-grey ghosting upon the blade, now darkened with age, although most of the gilding within the etched blade decoration remains.All lots are sold "AS IS" The condition of lots can vary widely and are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. *No credit card payments will be accepted for silver, gold, or jewelry from buyers that have not purchased from our gallery in the past.
Condition
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