[SWORDS OR SABERS]. Midshipman?s Naval Dress Dirk. [England, ca. 1800]. As Officers and midshipmen carried these weapons throughout the Napoleonic Wars, we believe this example suggests a wealthy family or a member of the nobility due to its costly manufacture. The bone hilt is cross hatched with chain knucklebow, back piece and quillon with lion or seal head decoration, with traces of gilt visible. The curved blade is 18 inches (22 1/2 inches in the scabbard to the hilt pommel) with uniform pitting and browning over the length. The leather scabbard is decorated Rose and Crown tooling with brass fittings and original suspension rings; there is a split near the tip above the brass end, and a small leather piece is loose. Very good.