Show us your dirks

[OC Richard]

Thanks for the Cameron Highlanders dirk photos!

That dirk in situ worn by piper Henry Pegram (listed as a Seaforths piper but the dirk and crossbelt are pure Cameron Highlanders)



and by pipers of The Highlanders. Note that the Pipe Major wears a Gordon Highlanders officers' dirk while the pipers wear Cameron Highlanders dirks



(Actually I've noticed, in photos of The Highlanders' pipe band, that some of the pipers are wearing the old Cameron Highlanders dirks while some are wearing the ordinary MOD bandsmen's dirks.)

Now, about MY dirks, I don't have anything decent any more. I used to have this lovely gilt civilian dirk, wood handles, very nice Celtic knotwork mounts

[Altenberg Bagpiper]

As usual nice pictures Richard. Gaudy is a good word for the look of the Cameron Highlanders dirk. A friend of mine has described them as gnarly, which also fits. Like a lot of things nowdays very few high end dirks are being made. With the cost of labor in the west most people just aren't willing to pay for things that require a great deal of workmanship and time. Like the handful of bagpipe makers who still use traditional methods, their days are numbered.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Here is mine : customized with bone and steel caps.




Best,

Robert

[Altenberg Bagpiper]

Robert,
I do like the look of metal caps on the pommels. This was somewhat common on regimental dirks in the Victorian era. The mounts were then engraved or had regimental devices soldered on.
Jim

[Woodsheal]

I've posted these before elsewhere, but since it's a dirk thread....

I go for the earlier historic patterns (late 1600s to early 1700s). This one was made by Glenn McClain:



The back edge of the McClain dirk: ~FEAR GOD AND DO NOT KIL~1680 (It's a copy of an original dirk):



As is this one by Warren Halstead:

[Chas]

Woodsheal - I am aware of your expertise, so am somewhat hesitant to ask this. How accurate are the sheaths of your two dirks? That is to say, was there a lot of fancy leatherwork? And for that matter, were the belts of a similar standard?

Regards

Chas

[Woodsheal]

Woodsheal - I am aware of your expertise, so am somewhat hesitant to ask this. How accurate are the sheaths of your two dirks? That is to say, was there a lot of fancy leatherwork? And for that matter, were the belts of a similar standard?

Regards

Chas

Of the two sheaths, I would say the knotwork on the first one (McClain) is rather fanciful and "interpretive", though the configuration of the sheath itself is accurate. The sheath with separate frog set-up is based off an original or two. The simple crossed lines and dots motif of the second sheath is correct, and commonly seen on period sword and dirk scabbards.