Red stag handle dirk, and historical question(s)

[Mark E.]

Ok, project itch is back...I dusted off the dirk project recently, and with recent trials with the targe, I have come upon a historical question...


Were there any provisions for a lanyard on the dirk handle itself, in any era? For, say, retaining the weapon in a fight? Where I have curt the brow tine from the handle, I plan to mount a copper plate, and was thinking this may be an ideal spot for a low profile ring to attach what would be the equivalant of wrist lanyard...I hav decided not to do a loop on the pommel nut, given I am peining the tang at that point.

I have seen "keepers" on the by-pieces of later dirks, but did not know if this would have been a feature on the main dirk. I am using roe deer antlers for my by-piece handles, and since I have a skull piece still attached to the crown, I will probably be carving a feature that will make this possible without damaging overall aesthetics.

Another question-I came across a dirk with a honing steel (NOT a sharpening steel), with a date of around 1820...How early were honing steels in existance? I have seen trouses from Germany with them, but not sure on dates...Given that it is a "could have been" late 17th century piece, I wanted to do my by fork/knife/spoon/ and possibly a honing steel side by side in pairs on the scabbard front...

Any information is appreciated!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

To the best of my knowledge, and certainly within my range of experience, it is extremely unlikely that a Scottish dirk was ever fitted with a lanyard ring and lanyard. There are practical reasons for this; in an all-out combat situation the dirk was held in the hand opposite the sword hand, point down, and in advance of the targe. The presence of a lanyard, draped across the body, would have interfered with one's ability to fully sweep the blade of the dirk in either an attack or perry motion. Further, when moving about with the dirk sheathed, the lanyard would have become caught up in the gorse and bracken which is very much a feature of the Scottish landscape. Finally, in all of the paintings and drawings extant-- at least that I am familiar with-- showing Highlanders with dirks, not a single one shows a dirk with a lanyard; proof again that they most likely didn't exist.

Keepers, the small chains designed to prevent the loss of the by-knife and by-fork, are a later addition to the dirk, and generally date from a period after about 1825, and coincide with the transformation of the dirk from a weapon into a dress accessory-- a transformation that is complete within 75 years.

Historically speaking, the Scottish dirk (as we tend to think of it) really only takes on its characteristic shape in the mid-1600s, and there is little evidence to suggest that a by-knife and by-fork were common before about 1700, although it is likely that they did exist. Indeed, there is one one surviving example of the by-knife and by-fork, in their original scabbard, which is dated to 1600. Originally the property of Sir John Ramsay who used it, to good effect, to foil an attempt to kidnap James VI by killing the would-be kidnappers-- the Master of Ruthven and the Earl of Gowrie. (The dagger was subsequently stolen, and later used to murder Henry IV of France in 1610.) I should point out that the dagger was of the typical ballock shaped hilt and blade of the late 1500s, and has no resemblance to the traditional Scottish dirk.

Far from proving that the bi-knife and other utensils were common, it would seem to suggest (at least as far as Scotland is concerned) that this sort of arrangement was probably limited to the (wealthy) aristocracy of the period.

While I don't doubt that you have come across a dirk with a honing steel in the scabbard, I would have to say that whilst I've encountered numerous continental dirks so equipped, I have yet to personally examine a single Scottish example (although one is illustrated in Forman's book which, judging by its style, might date from c.1850 or later). Perhaps you'd be kind enough to post a few photos?

I hope that answers you questions!

[Dale Seago]

Were there any provisions for a lanyard on the dirk handle itself, in any era? For, say, retaining the weapon in a fight?

I've never, ever seen or heard of one.

Another question-I came across a dirk with a honing steel (NOT a sharpening steel), with a date of around 1820...How early were honing steels in existance? I have seen trouses from Germany with them, but not sure on dates...Given that it is a "could have been" late 17th century piece, I wanted to do my by fork/knife/spoon/ and possibly a honing steel side by side in pairs on the scabbard front...!

I can't remember what book I ran across this in, but this whole bye-knife & fork in the scabbard thing appears to be a later development from the earlier practice of having a honing steel on the scabbard of hunting knives and, IIRC, daggers. Date-wise, 1500s comes to mind.

[Mark E.]

To the best of my knowledge, and certainly within my range of experience, it is extremely unlikely that a Scottish dirk was ever fitted with a lanyard ring and lanyard. There are practical reasons for this; in an all-out combat situation the dirk was held in the hand opposite the sword hand, point down, and in advance of the targe. The presence of a lanyard, draped across the body, would have interfered with one's ability to fully sweep the blade of the dirk in either an attack or perry motion. Further, when moving about with the dirk sheathed, the lanyard would have become caught up in the gorse and bracken which is very much a feature of the Scottish landscape. Finally, in all of the paintings and drawings extant-- at least that I am familiar with-- showing Highlanders with dirks, not a single one shows a dirk with a lanyard; proof again that they most likely didn't exist.

I believe I was unclear...wasn't thinking of a suicide strap as would be applied to a modern combat pistol...more a wrist strap-but I do see your point. I have outfitted my hatchets/hawks with a lanyard feature, but for slightly different reasons.

Historically speaking, the Scottish dirk (as we tend to think of it) really only takes on its characteristic shape in the mid-1600s, and there is little evidence to suggest that a by-knife and by-fork were common before about 1700, although it is likely that they did exist. Indeed, there is one one surviving example of the by-knife and by-fork, in their original scabbard, which is dated to 1600. Originally the property of Sir John Ramsay who used it, to good effect, to foil an attempt to kidnap James VI by killing the would-be kidnappers-- the Master of Ruthven and the Earl of Gowrie. (The dagger was subsequently stolen, and later used to murder Henry IV of France in 1610.).

Interesting. I would have attributed the absense of utinsels to the fact when dirks were banned, that the associated pieces were pressed into an unassociated service. Though scabbards would have given evidence of the "missing" pieces...

While I don't doubt that you have come across a dirk with a honing steel in the scabbard, I would have to say that whilst I've encountered numerous continental dirks so equipped, I have yet to personally examine a single Scottish example. Perhaps you'd be kind enough to post a few photos?

It will be a week or so, as the book is in Illinois, and I am not-but I will.


![/QUOTE]
I hope that answers you questions![/QUOTE]

Gave me a good bit to think about!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I believe I was unclear...wasn't thinking of a suicide strap as would be applied to a modern combat pistol...more a wrist strap-but I do see your point. I have outfitted my hatchets/hawks with a lanyard feature, but for slightly different reasons.

A wrist strap, such as the sabre knot encountered on swords, would seem to me to be highly impractical, something the dirk-wielding Scots most certainly were not. For a wrist strap to be effective one has to thread their hand through the loop and then, using the other hand, slide the keeper up snug against the wrist. This is just far too fiddly to have any practical application, requiring, as it does, employing two hands to use a one handed weapon. Unlike a broadsword, which is primarily a cutting weapon (I'm temped to say "chopping" weapon) the dirk is intended to be used in battle as a thrusting weapon and therefore is less likely to be lost or dropped when used as intended. Had wrist straps been thought necessary at the time they most certainly would have been adopted, especially on swords. But we have simply no evidence, whatsoever, of their being used. So...

As with the lanyard, and quoting Dale Seago, "I've never, ever, seen or heard of one." And I doubt they ever existed.

Interesting. I would have attributed the absense of utinsels to the fact when dirks were banned, that the associated pieces were pressed into an unassociated service. Though scabbards would have given evidence of the "missing" pieces...

If you are referring to the disarming acts following the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745-46, then I have to point out that the dirk not only survived this period, but actually increased in numbers as the superior steel of cut down sword blades became the choice of most dirk cutlers in Scotland. The dirk was considered a "tool" not an offensive weapon, and continued to be worn openly. It is at this time that the utensils, previously mounted side by side, generally come to be mounted one above the other.

[Mark E.]

If you are referring to the disarming acts following the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745-46, then I have to point out that the dirk not only survived this period, but actually increased in numbers as the superior steel of cut down sword blades became the choice of most dirk cutlers in Scotland. The dirk was considered a "tool" not an offensive weapon, and continued to be worn openly. It is at this time that the utensils, previously mounted side by side, generally come to be mounted one above the other.

Hmmm...well, lucky for me I live in the 21st century, because the piece I am making could never be intrepeted as anything other than a "warlike weapon".