Royal Naval Georgian Midshipman’s Dirk, made or retailed by ‘Irish Portsmouth’, the curved broad 15” blade with 43/4” spear point retains much original polish, beautifully etched on the obverse with laurel sprays the crown over ‘GR’, the globe, trophies of arms and flags and floral decoration at the forte; on the reverse laurel sprays the figure of Victory trippant, with further trophies and floral decoration below; the gilt cross piece with decorated swept quillons and shield shaped langets with chiselled oak and acorn sprays; the solid gilt mameluke style hilt profusely engraved with leaf decoration. The copper gilt scabbard decorated overall with elaborate engraving, the obverse featuring King Neptune in his chariot being pulled by sea-horses, behind a seahorse pulls a mermaid, dolphins and leaf decoration complete the tableau; the reverse with bird-like creatures and multi leaf panels, the dirk lacks the fine chain ‘hand-guard’, the scabbard lacks liners and the top throat-piece and has a split on the top back seam of about 2”, there is a minor part fracture across the back seam further down, 90% gilt remains on the relevant areas. £600-800