Officer's dirk to the Highland Rifle Militia. Bright tapering blade fullered along the back on each side to the point of flattened diamond section. Blade on one side stamped with maker's details Lockwood Brothers/Shefield with two '+" and one 'X' and on the other side with The Highland/Rifle Militia. Shouldered swelling wooden grip carved with Celtic interlace set with silver studs, and white-metal mounts including horizontal pommel-cap with knurled edge and threaded button finial. Original wood-lined black leather scabbard with white-metal mounts engraved with rocailles and foliage on the outside, and with two rings for suspension. Matching knife and fork ensuite. Blade: 31,5 cm. Condition: Scattered rust patination to blade. Matching knife cap missing. The dirk maker Lockwood Brothers, Sheffield, was active at 74 Arundel Street from 1855 to 1893 and at Spital Hill Works, Sheffield from 1894 to 1922.
Ref 43. Highland Rifle Militia
1855 - 1899
A militia regiment in the North of Scotland, the 'Ross, Caithness, Sutherland and Cromarty Militia' was raised in the early 19th century. It had at least three officers with the surname Sutherland.
Later it became the 96th Highland Rifle Militia but was generally known as the 'Ross-shire Militia.
It was embodied in late 1899 as the 3rd Militia Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) and embarked in February 1900 for service in Egypt alongside the 1st battalion.
The Seaforth Highlanders was created through the amalgamation of the 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders) Regiment of Foot and the 78th (Highlanders) (Ross-shire Buffs) Regiment of Foot, as part of the Childers Reforms of the British Army in 1881. It was named after Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth, who had originally raised the 72nd Regiment. Originally named "Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs)", Queen Victoria approved on 22 November 1881 to style the regiment forthwith as "Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's).