Stag handled Dirk-Progress

[Mark E.]

Oh, absolutely!

I'm just thinking about the supposed Scottish tradition of antler-handled dirks being "daywear" items. I rather doubt that such were used in Scotland during what we often think of as the "Jacobite era" as I've seen plenty of dirk handles from that period in wood, brass, bone, and pewter. . .but never antler. I suspect this particular tradition is no older than the sgian dubh, and is likely a more recent development even than that.

Indeed...Also, I am sure you have scavenged for shed antlers...they are quite popular among rodents. Perhaps if the antler handles did exist that far back, they would have become mouse treats...
On the subject of "day" and "evening" wear...some things could never be considered among the adapted items that were once carried as personal necessities. You won't see me in a kilt at a wedding, or a ball...I think a lot of what we see that survived the early eras was because it was not used or lived with every day-therefore was automatically in better shape, and may vary slightly against what a commoner may have had.

[BuchananBiker]

Some mighty fine craftsmanship.
I still have antlers that were too big for my sgian duhb. You just may have inspired my next project.