Dirk, after 1856, which belonged to Commander William Edward May (1899-1989). The hilt of the dirk consists of a straight crosspiece with inversed acorn ends. In the centre of the crosspiece on the obverse, is a crown and foul anchor motif surrounded by a laurel wreath. The dirk has a gilt lion's head pommel and back-piece. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires. The straight, flat-backed steel blade is bevelled towards the point. The obverse of the blade is engraved on the shoulder with a proof mark, and the Royal arms, with decoration above and below. The reverse of the blade is engraved with the name 'Gieves' and a crown over a foul anchor, with decoration above and below. The black leather scabbard has one gilt locket with two rings, and a chape. The scabbard is part numbered WPN1130.1 and can be accessed via the WHOLE/PART toggle. There is a steel spring at the top of the back edge of the locket to engage in the slot in the quillon.

Commander William Edward May (1899-1989) was born on the 10th November 1899 and became a Naval Cadet in September 1912. He became a Midshipman on the 30th June 1915 and was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant on the 15th May 1918; to Lieutenant on the 15th August 1919 and was on the Emergency List on the 12th April 1927. He was promoted to Acting Commander in February 1936 and to Commander on the 8th May 1946. He worked as a Naval Assistant in the Compass Department of the Admiralty between 1929-1952, and he became Deputy Director of the National Maritime Museum in 1951, he died in 1989.