Interesting Dirks: Has Anyone Seen These Before?

**OC Richard** · 21st March 14, 06:02 AM

Yes I believe those are made in India, and the quality (I think) is pretty good. I've handled a number of Indian-made reproduction swords, and I have a Claymore, and they're well made.

I like that dirk because it's a classic fairly early simple design, I would guess of the sort worn c1800. Not the classic 18th century dirk, nor the High Victorian dirk with cast silver fitments, but in between. My only quibble is that the small knife and fork look a bit too narrow to be in the ordinary proportion with the rest. Actually the knife handle is a bit small too, but not as much.

I'm thinking about getting one myself!

**PiperOfThePlains** · 21st March 14, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Yes I believe those are made in India, and the quality (I think) is pretty good. I've handled a number of Indian-made reproduction swords, and I have a Claymore, and they're well made.

I like that dirk because it's a classic fairly early simple design, I would guess of the sort worn c1800. Not the classic 18th century dirk, nor the High Victorian dirk with cast silver fitments, but in between. My only quibble is that the small knife and fork look a bit too narrow to be in the ordinary proportion with the rest. Actually the knife handle is a bit small too, but not as much.

I'm thinking about getting one myself!

Precisely. I'm sure it'll be just fine for my purposes. The fork and knife look okay to my eye-in-training, but my bagpipe senses started tingling when I saw the where the handle meets the sheath. I guess we can say that it's an exact 19th century reproduction -- made by hand with the slight flaws of human craftsmanship.

**OC Richard** · 21st March 14, 07:40 PM

Here's an actual Scottish high Victorian dirk. Note the proportions/relative sizes between the dirk handle, small knife & fork handles, and scabbard

Note how, by comparison, the Indian scabbard is too big for the things that go in it.

**PiperOfThePlains** · 21st March 14, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Here's an actual Scottish high Victorian dirk. Note the proportions/relative sizes between the dirk handle, small knife & fork handles, and scabbard

Note how, by comparison, the Indian scabbard is too big for the things that go in it.

Right. It will serve my purpose, though; hopefully, that particular one just happened to be strange.
As I said, I'm trying to piece together No. 1 dress, and as that in itself is quite expensive enough, let alone for a fourteen year old solo piper. Plus, I have a formal event (my first prom) coming up rather soon, and this will make for a nice touch.

**Father Bill** · 22nd March 14, 03:07 AM

Hi Piper.

Be awfully careful with the idea of a dirk and a prom; we've had discussions of it here before and there are a lot of places where even the sghian is unwelcome at such events. Best to ascertain in advance whether it will be a problem or be considered a weapon and confiscated.

**Nathan** · 22nd March 14, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

Hi Piper.

Be awfully careful with the idea of a dirk and a prom; we've had discussions of it here before and there are a lot of places where even the sghian is unwelcome at such events. Best to ascertain in advance whether it will be a problem or be considered a weapon and confiscated.

Ditto to this. I also want to point out that in most contexts a dirk is totally over the top and doesn't improve the look of your outfit. I understand if you're putting together full military attire with a feather bonnet, but for a prom I think it would not only be very unwise for the reasons Father Bill mentioned, it would be kind of tacky, too.

I wore a kilt to my prom. Here's a bw shot from my high school year book.

Prom.jpg

**Piper** · 22nd March 14, 05:17 AM

I'll second the good Father's advice. These days, showing up at a school event sporting a blade is most likely to get you escorted out, at the very least. More likely is that you'll wind up at the local police station while they sort things out. When I play the pipes at my grandkids schools, I have a "sgian brew" that rides in the top of my hose for the occasion. That's a bottle opener with an antler handle I made up for such events. I still chuckle at the reaction of one teacher. He hadn't noticed the handle sticking out of the hose top, and when one of the students asked about "the knife in your sock", he looked panicked. He started to hyperventilate when I pulled it with great flourish. My explanation of needing to subdue the occasional recalcitrant pop bottle gave him time to regain his composure.