Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
Both Battalions? Also, did the officers of the 1st Battalion wear silver-mounted dirks, or were both Battalions gilt? Did the pipers and officers have a different pattern of dirk?
The correct term for the tip of the dirk is a chape. The trefoil chape design is the regimental pattern for the Seaforth Highlanders Officer's dirks (post 1881). It is sometimes present on pre 1881 dirks as well. It took a while for the regimental patterns to become standardized. Another indicator is that at the bottom of the dirk handle a feather bonnet and crossed swords are carved on the front side.

Pipers had a fairly plain dirk, but it also had the small knife and fork. The handles of the dirk and bi knife and fork weren't canted to the side, but faced straight up. I had a reproduction of this type of dirk made. I have some reference material that says the 1st Bn had silver mounts and the 2nd Bn gilt, however, I've never seen any silver ones personally. I have seen a photo of a silver (plated I think) Officer's dirk, but it was described as a VB dirk.