About dirks and civilians

[ThistleDown]

I wasn't sure who exactly the fellow in the first pic I posted was, but in the thread I pulled it from, Thistledown suggested he was a chief of the Clan Chattan confederation. Oops!

While the dirk may not be a current part of THCD daywear, I think Sir Didymous expressed a reenactment or historically flavoured approach to the kilt, hence the photo examples I posted.

The thread you linked to, Colin, refers to the tartan, not to the man. Mark Macbean asked if the tartan was Clan Chattan or Mackintosh Chief, and I replied Clan Chattan (the difference is presence or absence of a white line on the red). The chap in the pic is originally from Glasgow but now lives in Badenoch. He dresses something like this most days but I've only seen him with a dirk on this occasion when he added a fluff of white paper flower in his bonnet, too. I can't think of another time when I have seen a native non-military Scot wearing a dirk. In Scotland.

Kyle you are almost right, but not quite. The two in your pic are Sir William Macpherson of Cluny and John Mackintosh of Mackintosh, but John Mackintosh is chief of Clan Mackintosh; the chief of Clan Chattan is Malcolm Mackintosh of Mackintosh-Torcastle.

[CMcG]

Thanks for the clarification, ThistleDown.

[Fedgunner]

I wear a dirk on two occasions. One is when I am in SAMS uniform, and the other is when I am working in the ren fair's Scottish Village.
Barring that, I leave them home.

[mookien]

Think blue moon, free money and hen's teeth.

It's hard to beat David's reply, so I'll just add that I have never noticed anyone wearing a dirk with day wear. I have only seen one modern photograph of a fellow in formal wear wearing a dirk.

[TheOfficialBren]

I don't own a dirk nor do I see the purpose of owning one but to each their own.

[Harold Cannon]

I have been known to wear one with my kilt version of our fire department uniform. I also would think that they would be reserved for white tie functions. I am not a fan of the look with black tie. I have seen some daywear dirks that I like and it is really depending on the look and what you are trying to pull off, say if you are going for a historical look them it may be fitting. Other that that I say uniform or white tie!

[Jock Scot]

Think blue moon, free money and hen's teeth.

Nicely put and appropriate.

[creagdhubh]

Thanks, Rex!

[Dale Seago]

I'll wear a dirk -- generally the handmade one you can see at the top on my website -- if I'm wearing my historic (circa 1745) Highland attire, as pretty much every Gaelic male wore one all the time even if too cash-poor to own a sword. I'll also wear it while hiking/camping, whether kilted or not; and often when I'm NOT in (modern) traditional Highland daywear but AM kilted.

In THCD, though, no dirk as it's no longer a part of Highland tradition.

Perhaps strangely to some, I also would not wear a dirk with formal dress, for the simple reason that those made to go with formal attire today are merely dirk-like objects, masculine bling.

EDITED TO ADD VISUAL EXAMPLES:


I'm wearing a dirk here, up front above/beside the sporran:





Wearing a dirk here:





And NOT wearing a dirk here -- though my friend Russell is wearing one at his left hip, and I am wearing a stag-handled sgian dubh:

[Panache]

I have a dirk I made myself that I carry when I wear my belted plaid to the Renaissance Faire.

Beyond that I never wear it, even when I have the honor of presenting Burns' "Address to the Haggis" I have it sitting on the table in front of me.

I like Dale's comments about bling, and to be honest they just get in the way and tend to spoil the clean lines of one's attire. Not to mention they would get in the way if one were dancing! A sgian dubh is fine for me.

Cheers

Jamie