This small fighting dirk is of American or English manufacture, possibly made in Baltimore, in the early decades of the 1800s. Very similar examples are pictured in Peter Tuite's U.S. NAVAL OFFICERS - THEIR SWORDS AND DIRKS. The hilt is coin silver, with a fancy comb-shaped guard. The checkered grip has two age cracks, silver furniture is in remarkably good condition, 11 cm-long blade is free of rust and pitting. Total length of the dirk as about 20 cm.