Straight-bladed dirk, which belonged to Captain John Cooke (1763-1805). The hilt of the dirk consists of an engraved quillon and engraved flat shells. The dirk also has an engraved gilt pommel. The white ivory grip is diamond knurled. The straight, double-edged steel blade has deep grooves running to the point. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets, rings and chape. The top locket is engraved with the words 'Tatham Admiralty'.

Captain John Cooke (1763-1805) entered the Royal Navy in 1776. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1779 and to Commander in 1793. He was promoted to Captain in 1794 and was in command of HMS 'Nymphe' at the time of the Mutiny of the Nore, when his own men mutinied and put him ashore. He commanded HMS 'Bellerophon' at the Battle of Trafalgar and was killed while reloading his pistols. The National Maritime Museum has one of these pistols in its collection see AAA2464. The dirk conforms almost exactly to that illustrated in the book 'Bellerophon' by Edward Fraser p.239. Fraser says, 'Many Captains wore their old midshipman's dirks in battle as being useful in boarding, for parrying cuts or thrusts'.

See also WPN1001 for Captain Cooke's sword, MED0156 for his Trafalgar Medal and BHC2629 for a portrait.