Straight bladed dirk, the hilt of the dirk consists of a gilt, small round shell and a round gilt pommel embossed with a lion's face. The grip is ivory and the blade is made of steel and is straight, with a tapered diamond section. The gilt scabbard has two rings, the obverse of which are engraved with the words 'Read' and 'Portsmo'. Commander C.R. Burgess OBE presented the dirk to the National Maritime Museum, its provenance being unknown except that it had been in the Burgess Family for many years.