FINE & UNIQUE PUBLISHED SILVER MOUNTED DIRK ROYAL PROVENANCE c.1860’s

Description: FINE & UNIQUE ENGLISH SILVER MOUNTED HISTORICAL DIRK CIRCA 1860’s – 80’s FINE & UNIQUE ENGLISH SILVER MOUNTEDPUBLISHED DIRK WITH ROYAL PROVENANCECIRCA 1860’s – 80’s FINE & UNIQUE ENGLISH SILVER MOUNTED HUNTING COMANION DIRK OF ARISTOCRAT AND MILITARY OFFICER MAJOR JAMES ALEXANDER BY UNDERWOOD / LONDON CIRCA 1860’s – 80’s PUBLISHED WITH NAMED PROVENANCE HISTORY OF EARL OF CALEDON James Alexander, 1st Viscount Caledon, was a merchant who had made an enormous fortune in India. He also represented the constituency of Londonderry City in the Irish House of Commons. Alexander had already been created Baron Caledon in 1790 and Viscount Caledon, in 1797. His Earl of Caledon title was created in 1800 and he also was a representative in the Irish House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl who was the first Governor of the Cape Colony and sat in the House of Lords from 1804 to 1839. Another son, James Du Pre Alexander, the third Earl, was an Irish Representative Peer between 1841 and 1855. His eldest son, Major James Alexander was the owner of this dirk. This knife is described in the Heritage of English Knives in the chapter 35 under Military Campaign Knives and identified as a hunting companion, Dirk weapon, and a necessary accouterment. This piece was owned by Major James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon, (b.1846–d.1898). James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon, KP, DL, was born on 11 July 1846 – and died on 27 April 1898). As the eldest son of James Du Pre Alexander, the 3rd Earl of Caledon he succeeded to the title Earl of Caledon at the age of nine upon the death of his father in 1855. James Alexander was a politician and soldier. Lord Caledon was elected to sit in the House of Lords as an Irish representative peer in 1877 and was Deputy Lieutenant of County Tyrone. He first gained the rank of captain in the service of the 1st Life Guards, became a major serving with the 4th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and at age 36, fought in the Egyptian Campaign in 1882; also known as the British conquest of Egypt in the 2nd Brigade under the command of Major General Gerald Graham in the 1st Battalion. Royal Irish Fusiliers. It was common among Elites during the Victorian period, especially among Wealthy Men of Means and Military Officers, to make presentations of weapons and Gentleman’s accoutrements to other esteemed Dignitaries. It is highly likely this dirk was a Presentation piece, and also possible was carried during this service in the British conquest of Egypt in the1882 military campaign. James Alexander II also sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer from 1877 to 1898. He was also invested as a Knight of the Order of St. Patrick on 14 November 1896. Lord Caledon died on 27 April 1898 at the age of 51 from blood poisoning and pneumonia. At the time of his passing, Lord Caledon owned 29,000 acres in Tyrone. This hunting companion Miliary Campaign Dirk is 10 ½” long in the sheath, the dirk alone is 9 ¼” with a 4 7/8” clip blade. Weight of the dirk with the sheath is 7.1 ounces or 203 grams. Weight of the dirk alone is 5.2 ounces or 150 grams. The blade is made from thick 3/16” stock that gives the dirk a hefty feel for its size. The oval escutcheon plate is hand engraved in Old English style, Earl of Caledon. The blade is hot stamped on the blade flat, as is found on quality knives. Note the mark V crown R, Underwood, 56 Haymarket, and the word LONDON, guaranteeing it to be a rare London Made knife by a renowned Maker. The are no nicks to the blade edge and a full tip with false sharp edge. The blade has been used in the field and sharpened properly. The blade flats have extremely fine vertical hairline marks that appears to be made with a very fine whet stone that makes the surface slightly dull but still shiny with traces of the original signature crocus of Iron polish. The hand checkered dark greenish brown natural horn material has milled brass liners found on quality knives. It is unusual for a dirk to have slide out implements, and are found on quality pocketknives, Sportsman’s dirks, and rarely, on Bowies. The pricker could be used as a toothpick, scratch awl, or punch awl for harness / saddle repair. The tweezers are to help remove stickers or thorns. The original tube style sheath is in mint condition with nice naturally aged patina and only one thin scratch to the throat and leather top. The mounts are fancy with a scalloped and line engraved tip with ball finial and a scalloped and line engraved throat with an early style lip, 2 pins on the sides, and stud on the back side with a ring. The back is double stitched and both the front and back side have a rectangular embossed pattern. Note the book states the mounts are silver plated because they are not hallmarked. However, not all silver is hallmarked. The hilt bolster and pin, along with the engraved oval escutcheon plate and scale pins all match the sheath mounts in color and appear to be silver as no underneath metal from wear appears on the sheath ring from wear. However, I do not have a test kit, and silver acid tests can also leave unwanted permanent marks on the soft silver. It seems highly unlikely that a piece that was custom made to order for presentation to an Aristocrat, Earl, Lord, and Military Officer would be plated vs. solid silver. This interesting and historical dirk is in excellent overall condition, with provenance and is also published. This would be perfect for any Knife, Dirk, Dagger, 19th Century, Military, Sportsman, Aristocrat, Royalty, Elite, or Historian collector. Note it is extremely difficult to photograph a shiny, curved, reflective blade. I took several dozens of images in several different lighting conditions and had to use imaging correction software to try to get the images to visualize what the human eye sees. HISTORY OF UNDERWOOD Underwood, one of earliest and more frequently encountered London Cutlers, is the renown for its high quality. The firm began in 1791 by Yeeling Underwood who became a free Maker after an apprenticeship under another cutler with the same first name, Yeeling Charlwood located at Russel Court. Yeeling Underwood attained Master Cutler status in 1819. Yeeling Underwood was listed in the 1820, 1832 & 1832 London directories located at 8 Great Turnstile, but Yeeling Underwood died in 1834. A George Underwood, presumably son of Yeeling Underwood, is also listed at this Great Turnstile address. George Underwood was not listed for a number of years, but reemerges in 1860, and listed in 1866, but there is no trace after 1870. Another cutler apprentice, Thomas Henry Underwood also became indentured to the same Yeeling Charlwood in 1791 Henry Thomas Underwood, originally an apprentice to Yeeling Charlwood in 1791, succeeded him when Charlwood’s wife Sarah willed the business to him at Russell court in 1803. In 1820, the firm was listed in the London directories of 1820 at the corner of Russell Court and Drury Lane, London. In 1822 the firm was listed at 74 Drury Lane and 56 Haymarket. The Drury address was omitted in 1832. The firm remained under the same Underwood name until Henry Thomas Underwood’s death in 1860 when it became known as Underwood and Farrant. They continued to stamp their cutlery with the Underwood mark and remained in business until 1925. Although there is no clear link, Henry Thomas Underwood appears to be related to John Underwood and was the beneficiary of the John Underwood cutlery firm at Russel Court. John Underwood was at Russel court from 1787 until his death in 1803. John Underwood’s predecessor was the well-known James Bernardeau, a London cutler from 1727 to 1753, who was a Huguenot and forced into exile in England. His wife, Ann ran the business from 1753 to 1766, and left the business to her daughter Ann, who married Stephen Gagnon, also a cutler, who remained at Russel Court until 1787 when the Russell Court premises were taken over by John Underwood who died in 1803.This is the same location of Yeeling Charlwood located at Russel Court in 1791, as well as Henry Thomas Underwood’s location from 1803 until 1820. 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Price: 2245.5 USD

Location: Fairfield, California

End Time: 2024-07-18T05:36:22.000Z

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