Friedrich Horster (the elder), of Solingen, Germany, made this naval officer's fighting dirk between 1830 and 1870.
The 420mm single edged blade has a broad, single fuller on both sides and is double-edged for the last 140mm. The blade has a flat spine and terminates in a spear point. The spine is 6mm thick at the ricasso and the ricasso is 29mm wide. The ricasso is marked with an oval comprised of dots containing the initials "F. H." which is the maker's mark for Friedrich Horster.
The blade is in over-all good condition with some age expected tarnish and pitting. The blade retains its fighting edge.
The hilt has an elongated S cross piece which is made of brass, with a brass bolster and bone hilt capped with a brass pommel with radiating design and round tang nut. The blade is firm in the hilt. There is a tiny amount of movement in the cross piece, probably resulting from a shrinkage in the bone grip.
The scabbard is dark brown, tooled leather over wood with nickel or nickel-plated fittings. The scabbard and its elongated frog stud are not typical of British naval scabbards suggesting that this dirk may have been for European use, maybe Russian. The scabbard is in excellent condition and the stitching is intact and strong. The blade is held firmly in the scabbard.
This is a rare and very nice example of a German made naval officer's fighting dirk.
