Dirk?

[CMcG]

<snip>
Everything other than the jacket and vest I have, any suggestions on where I can find a Nice looking "cheap" Argyle?

You've already received plenty of good advice about what to buy, so I'll go back to the "how." I am also a university student and on a tight budget, which has forced me to go down the path of least cost.

Ebay is probably your best bet, but the trick is find some good quality used items. Anything new and cheap probably isn't that good... buying used Highland attire can be tricky though.

Make sure you ask for actual measurements of a jacket, then compare that against a jacket you already own and fits you well: shoulders seam to seam, armpit to armpit with the jacket laid flat and buttoned closed, shoulder seam to cuff. Don't be in a rush or get into a bidding war. Depending on your size, Argyll jackets come up on Ebay all the time...

Also check out a thread I made for some more ideas about putting together outfits:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...xamples-68377/

[ANP3]

Very nice, I'm hoping I can work some of the things I need for my pipe band into my overall outfit, because between that and reeds and other bagpipe parts I dont have to much left over.

Thanks.
Nick

[sailortats]

well, I guess after reading everyone's thoughts on wearing a dirk, I have just saved myself some money. I have been wanting a dirk for some time now but it appears that it would not be very well received in most cases by those who understand proper modern highland dress. Thanks for your advice guys, much appreciated.

[warrior]

JMO on sgains and dirks. They are knives plain and simple. Edged tools used for cutting, stabbing and slashing. As an actual daily user of edged tools I have no use in any form, decorative or not, for a tool that by design can not function. The plastic and pot metal decorative pieces are not for me. My current selection of knives shall have to suffice until I can acquire sgains or dirks that can actually perform. I am looking at the sgains from koyote knives and his large langseax is a dead ringer for a scottish dirk. Now as to use the sgain by design is a useful edc type knife though personally I find a skinner type blade of more use in my line of work. The dirk on the other hand is an entirely different beastie. It is nothing more or less than a military short sword. It's proper place is in light of it's history as the weapon of the highland warrior. Not for casual or day wear but instead worn with all due serious consideration. Again all this is just my opinion.

[Dale Seago]

Not for casual or day wear but instead worn with all due serious consideration. Again all this is just my opinion.

Depends on whether you're speaking in terms of historical use or contemporary Scottish hoplophobic culture. From a historical standpoint (say up into The Forty-Five), the dirk was indeed worn for casual or day wear, though certainly fancier versions would be worn for more formal situations by those who could afford such pieces. See my comments toward the end of this article:

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/con...eago-Fall-1999

On the other hand, however. . .

Nowadays, if you're wearing Highland Dress, if you wear a dirk with anything other than formal attire you're going to (at best) raise eyebrows. If I'm out camping, or hiking in areas where there may be things like mountain lions or brigands, I do wear a dirk -- a handcrafted one in circa-1700 style (before the Victorian era when they basically devolved to "masculine bling") which is unapologetically a weapon and not a formal-wear piece. But on those occasions, while I may be wearing a kilt and sporran, I'm not trying to portray culturally-authentic contemporary Scottish attire.

When I am wearing a more culturally appropriate contemporary Highland ensemble, I don't wear a dirk. It doesn't "fit" now, even though 250 years or so ago it would have (along with a baskethilt sword and a Murdock pistol or two, all of which I could use quite competently). I do generally wear a stag-handled sgian dubh (made by our own Taygrd) as a general-purpose utility knife. If I need a weapon that was intended to be a weapon, the Bad Guys I'd need to use it on will have brought one or more for me to choose from, and they'll be my weapons before they have a clue what happened. There's a police SWAT-team sergeant among my black-belt students who can attest to that.

[warrior]

Thanks Dale. My post was just me and my opinion not that I know what I think I do. Great article I enjoy learning from folks like you.

If I understand you correctly historically dirks were daywear as there was still a very real need. Akin, to our modern concealed carry of sidearms in certain areas I guess. Of course like most things decoration and fashion created it's own traditions. Something like the "barbecue" guns (engraving, nickel plate, ivory, etc.) many gunny leos like to display when out of uniform. But just like firearms wearing any sort of large blade today has certain negative social consequences. Interesting.
I just know my taste runs to form follows function. For me while I would love to own a dirk it must first serve a purpose or otherwise it is useless to me. A large langsaex would be of use to me for those times when I need a bushbeater. Unfortunately though I rarely "need" such a large blade. Mainly while running a beaver line is the only time I carry a large blade for chopping and barking thumb to wrist sized pieces to use for bait.

[Dale Seago]

David, I think we're pretty much on the same sheet o' music here.

It's an interesting dichotomy, rather like the seemingly paradoxical fact that a "Bowie knife", made famous by someone whose father emigrated from Scotland, cannot be worn today in Texas, where that same person -- Colonel James Bowie -- died in defense of Texas' independence from Mexico at the Alamo. (Born and raised a Texan, I am of course aware of this.)

But then, I'm a Japan-trained ninja (28 years' worth now), and ninjutsu is all about "blending in" appropriately and not standing out unless there's some operational need for it.