About dirks and civilians

[Dale Seago]

The question to the rabble is how common is it for a person to carry a dirk as part of day wear? And does anyone know any place one could pick up a non-formal style dirk?

I think the first question has been pretty well addressed, especially if by day wear you mean something like the way I'm dressed in the 3rd photo in my post above.

As for the second, though, if by non-formal you want something both historic-looking and functional, you're pretty much limited to something bespoke. Not entirely, but mostly. Most of the "production" dirks out there are either poor quality steel, have poorly heat-treated blades if the steel is otherwise decent, and on most the grip area between the top of the haunches and the point where the pommel begins to flare out is WAY too long.

kultofathena.com has already been mentioned as a source. One from them I'd be willing to take a chance on is this brass-handled one, which is actually pretty close in looks to a couple of historic brass-handled ones I've seen:

http://www.kultofathena.com/images%5C2212_l.jpg

Note that on the description it says "Edge: Moderately Sharp". That could be because, even if the Indian or Pakistani smith forged it from decent quality steel (a car leaf-spring for example) for the purpose, it may not have been heat treated well and may therefore never be capable of acquiring more than a "moderately sharp" edge.

For not too big a price bite, I'd certainly take a chance on this one:

http://www.forgedintime.com/handmade.../scottish-dirk

While it looks double edged, it's not (some dirks were, most weren't), though it does have a 4-inch false edge.

Or going the bespoke route, you might try contacting some outfit like Old Dominion Forge (specializing in 1700s-style blades) and see what they could do for you. Check out the pics on their main page:

http://www.olddominionforge.com/

(Warning: You may want to put a towel over your keyboard first, to keep it from shorting out from the drool.)