Help With Dirk Hallmarks

[Dram]

Hello,

Hoping some of you could confirm some marks on a dirk I have (needs to be cleaned up a bit).

As far as I can tell the dirk is hallmarked Glasgow, Sterling Silver, for 1913 and is from R.G. Lawrie. The first mark has what I believe is the lion for .925 the other mounts however only have a tree the date letter and RGL.

They appear to be silver and I assume they are but don't have a thistle or lion.

Any insight would be great. Here are some pics.

[Dram]

I guess what I am asking is: was it common with hallmarked silver to fully mark one piece on a single item and then only use a makers mark, city mark, and date letter on other pieces?

What puzzles me is that if the other parts were not silver why would the assay office even bother with a city mark, and date letter? Conversely, why not just use the lion througout?

Although, these marks (lacking the lion) confuse me I am certain all of the pieces on the scabbard are silver. Not plated.

Also, was hoping someone may be able to confirm the date of 1913. Glasgow.

[Jock Scot]

If you are looking at your second picture and at the left hand hall mark, I think you will find that is " a tree(not sure which)with a salmon(?) crossing the lower trunk at right angles", the Glasgow hall mark. I cannot see on your pictures a lion. The "L"does correspond to 1913. I am concerned that you don't mention any hall marks on the hinged belt loop bit.

[Dram]

Hello Jock,

Underneath the hinged belt bit, is as you pointed out, a tree with a salmon, a lion passant, and then the date letter.

All of the other bits on the scabbard only have the tree and salmon, R.G.L, and the date letter. Each other (other than the markings under the hinge) piece is marked this way.

Are these other markings still confirming silver on the other pieces?

[Jock Scot]

Hello Jock,

Underneath the hinged belt bit, is as you pointed out, a tree with a salmon, a lion passant, and then the date letter.

All of the other bits on the scabbard only have the tree and salmon, R.G.L, and the date letter. Each other (other than the markings under the hinge) piece is marked this way.

Are these other markings still confirming silver on the other pieces?

Before I go any further I am not a real expert on hall marks, only an amateur which can be a dangerous thing!Having said that, I think I would expect to see a lion there with all the different groupings of hallmarks, but perhaps Glasgow assay office had their own way of doing things? Quite possible. The fact that there is a lion there somewhere, does I think, probably suggest that the silver metal is in fact silver. But please seek professional advice before quoting me!

[Dram]

Before I go any further I am not a real expert on hall marks, only an amateur which can be a dangerous thing!Having said that, I think I would expect to see a lion there with all the different groupings of hallmarks, but perhaps Glasgow assay office had their own way of doing things? Quite possible. The fact that there is a lion there somewhere, does I think, probably suggest that the silver metal is in fact silver. But please seek professional advice before quoting me!

Thanks Jock. I am quite certain all of the mounts are silver, but how they did these hallmarks is awfully confusing.

Thought perhaps someone may have experienced a similar occurence with the Glasgow office.

[Dram]

Here is a photo. Sorry about the angle. If you look closely you can see the hallmarks on each fitment. The top fitment has the lion.

[Jock Scot]

Dram.

Just humour me here, please. Just to be clear, the "hinged belt hanger bit"(above the hinge pin) does that have any marks on it?

[Dram]

Dram.

Just humour me here, please. Just to be clear, the "hinged belt hanger bit"(above the hinge pin) does that have any marks on it?

No I cannot find any hallmarks on that piece. Only the mount where the belt thing attaches to is hallmarked.

Here are two pictures:

[Dram]

You can also see the lion in the center of the three hallmarks underneath the makers mark. Unfortunately the hallmark is becoming quite worn. I'll have to be carefull it doesn't become completely obscured.