Dirk & Sgian Dubh

[Dirk Skene]

I have a dirk that I have not yet had the opportunity to wear in public yet. That time is coming up later this month at the Memphis Clanjamfry. Most pictures I have seen have the dirk hanging on the same side as one wears their sgian dubh, that is, the favored hand side. In my case the right hand. Is this the proper way? Do I understand it all correctly?

[Macman]

That's how I understand it. It is hung on the favoured side, but a little closer to the front. In the old days, that was because you would grab it with your "unfavoured" hand, with your targe, while your sword was held in the favoured hand. These days, I'd say wear it on your sgian dubh side, wherever you find it comfortable.

[James MacMillan]

It is, after all, a weapon. So wear it where and how you can draw it the fastest. If you favor the cross draw, then you would grasp the scabbard with the weak hand and draw the dirk with the strong hand, making it be on the left side. Because the sgian dubh doesn't require anything other than a draw, it is worn on the strong side, or in most cases the right.

Practice in front of the mirror, until you are comfortable with it, then you will carry it better. The same holds true for any weapon. If you can't get to it fast, it should stay home.

[PiobBear]

If you can't get to it fast, it should stay home.

It'd be a great shame for an errant haggis to suddenly jump from the trencher and escape because your dirk was stuck in it's scabbard!

Most folks I know wear their dirks on their right hip, far enough aft so as not to interfere with your right arm's swing as you march. Lots of fellows I know wear one with their formal dress; it's handy to have a frog that you can detach the scabbard from, as it's quite awkward to sit to dinner wearing a dirk. Burns Night and St Andrew's Dinner there's a line of dirks down the center of the table.

[Streetcar]

Wear it on the same side as you normally hold your glass. That way your draw won't interfere with your drink... int:

[ChromeScholar]

Or you can put your drink into one of those water bladders with the hose so both hands are free to draw...

[Dirk Skene]

Wear it on the same side as you normally hold your glass. That way your draw won't interfere with your drink... int:

Now that is the most practical rational I have ever heard in my life

[Archangel]

I just did a squinty through my books. Most of the old pics show the dirk on the right side. Quite a few are on the left. Right makes sense since the dirk would be held opposite the sword hand which is typically the right. Go with the cross draw idea.

Some people carried several dirks, or dirks and bayonets, so, really, go with what works for you.
If anybody challenges you, make them explain it. You've already got the answers here.

[turpin]

Even some of those old highlanders were probably sinstrally enabled.

[Phil]

The highlander fought with his targe on his left arm and his dirk in his left hand. He would draw the dirk from his right hip and use it with the targe to knock and slash the man facing him but to his left, the broadsword attacking the man directly in front of him. The English, unfortunately, cottoned on to this and their soldiers were trained to bayonet the highlander to their right whose targe would not be protecting him, instead of one straight ahead.