To dirk or not to dirk?

[MacCathmhaoil]

I do see some at the games or other kilted events and with some it appears as thought the belief is that "I must wear every highland dress accessory I own!" Military, civilian or imagined in some cases. I see dirks along the same lines as fly plaids as they just get in the way.
Sometimes less is more.

[O'Searcaigh]

I would think that it depends on what you are doing -- why you are wearing the kilt for this or that specific occasion. Unless it is to "dress up" "in costume" to represent some specific time in the historical past (as opposed to just wearing your kilt because for you, it is a natural item of dress), then I would think wearing a dirk (or any other such out-of-time or out-of-place thing) to be inappropriate. [And depending on where you live, could constitute "going armed" and require a license]. One of the problems I think many of us confront is that just putting on and going out and about in a kilt is in-itself regarded by way too many as "dress up" or wearing a "costume." Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with wearing costumes; it can be a lot of fun at appropriate times and places. But, if every time someone sees someone else wearing a kilt and dressed-out in what is obviously (other than the kilt itself) an attempt to "portray" some kind of character, whether fictional or historic, it just adds to the notion that being kilted MEANS being in costume. An attitude many of us (well, at least I) wished were not so.

[Nile]

I agree with Jock, Tobus, Usonian & others (***).

The fact that you are asking is good since a lot of us have questions about this type of accessory as well. And... the rabble here at XMTS is a good place to get such advice. Those who are deeply committed to such accessories will, undoubtedly, wear what they feel is necessary to complete their outfit and have made up their own minds about what works for them, appropriate or not.

Some patiently 'ask', 'listen' and 'learn' while others dive straight in and blunder along as they find their way! Go Figure!

Nile

[ThistleDown]

With Jock. Lovely thing to have in a weapons collection, turns the whole thing into a costume when worn with a kilt at a Highland Games.

[Chas]

The other thing to think about is quality. Some are exquisite works of art or are a rare historical artefact, but most look as they were made by a blind Tibetan yak herder who was trying to make a garlic press.

Regards

Chas

[Jock Scot]

I should imagine that some of the original Scottish ones made centuries ago and used at Culloden, for example, were pretty rustic too.

[Dale Seago]

One of the problems I think many of us confront is that just putting on and going out and about in a kilt is in-itself regarded by way too many as "dress up" or wearing a "costume." Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with wearing costumes; it can be a lot of fun at appropriate times and places. But, if every time someone sees someone else wearing a kilt and dressed-out in what is obviously (other than the kilt itself) an attempt to "portray" some kind of character, whether fictional or historic, it just adds to the notion that being kilted MEANS being in costume. An attitude many of us (well, at least I) wished were not so.

***!

The other thing to think about is quality. Some are exquisite works of art or are a rare historical artefact, but most look as they were made by a blind Tibetan yak herder who was trying to make a garlic press.

And plus yet another one!

[Dale Seago]

I often see dirks being worn by kilted men at gatherings/games in the US, the wearers almost invariably being very casually dressed: No jacket, no waistcoat, short-sleeved shirt of some sort with no tie. It looks "wrong" to me on two levels: One being that the contemporary tradition is that the dirk has come to be considered a formal-wear accessory; the other is that these are usually Victorian (and later) styled dirks -- big pieces of masculine bling with white metal fittings, bejeweled "baluster" handles, etc. These just don't "work" for me with ANY sort of casual attire.

My own dirks are 18th-century styled weapons that do NOT look like what I've described above, but would fit perfectly well with a feileadh mor in a reenactment setting. I would NOT wear one of those with contemporary Highland formal attire: Even though they're well crafted, the style looks too businesslike and utilitarian to "fit" with the rest of the "look".

On the other hand, now that I think of it, I have no problem with the idea of wearing one of them with something like my 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt, perhaps because even though I like it I don't think of it as a "real kilt" and wouldn't see myself as trying to either adhere to, or violate, any sort of tradition or social/cultural convention. I think a Jacobite-era style of dirk might even look rather good in that context. Here's what I'm talking about (minus a dirk) -- the picture below was taken at the dojo last night, after teaching my martial art class wearing the 5.11 TDK:

[creagdhubh]

Alright through my Scots eyes and assuming that you are not a piper or some such that wears a dirk as part of the "uniform" so a normal civilian kilted look? If so to most Scots eyes you would look like a complete lemon if you wore a dirk. I would also hazard a guess that the local constabulary may also take a very dim view too! Its just shows a complete misunderstanding of how kilt attire works in our eyes. A sgian dubh is not and never has been regarded as a weapon, both by the UK police, and Scots in general-------although, as we know it could be, but then, so could a cricket bat----but a dirk would be regarded as nothing other than a weapon, Burns night for the chap addressing the haggis would be an exception perhaps and quite unsuitable for general civilian wear.

***

[MizzouScotsman]

Thank you one and all. I knew I posted the question to the correct group. I bought my dirks to use as a part of our historical weapons display. I've never seen people who man the Clan tents actually wear one but there are a lot of folk who do. Some men I see have more things hanging off their kilt belts than I can name, flasks, dirks, multi-tools, etc. I'm not sure how their kilts aren't pulled down to their knees. Of course I've also seen the fairer sex wearing fairy wings at Highland games too..lol.

Thank you all for preventing me from making a major faux pas. As a side question, when did the dirk go out of style? Was it after Culloden?