As the holy knights have been slowly introduced into the story, I couldn't help but notice the intricate designs of some of their uniforms. I may analyze the other holy knights as well as I enjoyed researching this one.
Throughout One Piece there are countless references and inspirations taken from real-life cultures, religions, and people. In not all cases but some, the real-world connection to these things may reveal intentions or story significance about a particular character or setting in One Piece- this may be one of those such cases as the design of the Holy Knights so far has been exquisite.
Gunko
Gunko appears to be wearing a British Royal Navy Petty Officer Class 1 "Long Jacket" minus the pants of course.
- Gunko's jacket features the distinctive double-breasted style with what appears to be six gold buttons arranged in two vertical rows.
- The long jacket style extends below the waist, matching the formal Class 1 dress uniform style
- Though partially obscured by the scarf/mask, Gunko may have a high collar which is typical of naval dress uniforms
- The overall outfit suggests a formal naval tradition rather than a more casual navy style.
The roles of a Petty Officer are mostly engine room overseers, masters-at-arms, or schoolmasters. In other words, they are technical specialists and are typically considered a "middle rank" where they command lower ranking seamen but remain an enlisted rank and are not commissioned members. (a member of the armed forces who has been granted official authority and rank through a formal document, known as a commission) A petty officer would be comparable to a Sargent or Warrant Officer in the air force/army.
Possible Implications:
In naval hierarchies, Petty Officers (especially those in Engine Room or Electrical/Maintenance roles) are supposed to be technical specialists. This could hint that Gunko may have some kind of specialized technical knowledge or abilities that set them apart from other Holy Knights, such as so far being the only member of the Holy Knights demonstrating use of the Summoning Circles.
Historically, Petty Officers occupied a unique position of technically being part of the enlisted ranks but with authority over ordinary seamen. This "in-between" status meant they often served as a bridge between officers and crew - potentially reflecting Gunko's position as someone caught between different loyalties.
The specific choice of a Petty Officer Class 1 uniform (rather than an Admiral's or Captain's uniform) positions Gunko in a middle-tier rank. skilled and experienced but not at the highest levels of command.
Petty Officers are skilled professionals but are not part of the commissioned officer class. This may suggest that Gunko comes from a less affluent background. Naval history shows a tension between "technical specialists" (often from middle-class backgrounds who rose through merit) and "command officers" (often from aristocratic backgrounds). If the Holy Knights are otherwise aristocratic in nature, Gunko's technical uniform might signal an outsider status.
If the Holy Knights are meant to parallel a more aristocratic or traditional power structure (as the name kinda suggests), then Gunko's technical specialist uniform may very well position them as potentially subversive within that hierarchy - someone who gained their position through skill rather than birthright.
I realize a lot of what's talked about here are theories that have been touched on before, such as Gunko being the only Holy Knight who is able to use summoning circles, Gunko not being born a celestial dragon, and Gunko possibly being a traitor- but I consider the information here to be supplemental to those theories.
Thank you for reading!
