Fake vs real dirk.

[Geoff Withnell]

The ref faire I go to most often is the Pennsylvania Rennaissance Fair and they allow weapons, but they must be "peace bonded". There must be a tie wrap, or some means of securing the weapon in the scabbard, so it cannot be readily drawn. I wrap clear duct tape around the top of the scabbard and the dirk handle where they meet with the dirk sheathed. Almost invisible, and the renfair folks are satisfied. Oddly enough, they don't seem to consider sgains to be weapons, as I have never been asked to peace bond my sgian. My dirk is quite sharp.

Assuming your renfest allows attendees to wear/display weapons such as dirks (some don't allow anybody to carry weapons except staff members who are acting as fest characters) and are portraying an historical Highlander, then I'd recommend a mild steel dull/blunt dirk to avoid somebody grabbing it and then suing you for $5 million after he/she cuts him/herself.

If you are wearing a kilt as part of modern Scottish dress, you don't need a dirk, and instead of a sgian dhu I'd recommend a sgian brew (you'll need it).

The only time I carry a dirk is when I'm attired in 18th c. Highland dress as part of a reenactment event. My recreated dirks are sharp (the way the makers finished them) and occasionally come in handy as tools (cutting ropes, for example), but I keep them close and don't allow anybody not in my reenactment group to handle them due to liability issues.

[Orvis]

The ref faire I go to most often is the Pennsylvania Rennaissance Fair and they allow weapons, but they must be "peace bonded". There must be a tie wrap, or some means of securing the weapon in the scabbard, so it cannot be readily drawn. I wrap clear duct tape around the top of the scabbard and the dirk handle where they meet with the dirk sheathed. Almost invisible, and the renfair folks are satisfied. Oddly enough, they don't seem to consider sgains to be weapons, as I have never been asked to peace bond my sgian. My dirk is quite sharp.

I usually go to the Maryland Renn Faire near Annapolis - no weapons allowed! I've been to reenactments where the management seemed to be untrusting of the reenactors' ability to control their bladed weapons (when it came to some idiotic tourists or their kids trying to suddenly grab them) and they (being properly aware of liability issues) made us tie them in such a way that the blades could not be drawn from the scabbards without going through a specific set of steps. While some of the living history guys had sharp blades, most of us Highland reenactors had blunt dirks and swords to prevent the $5 million liability lawsuit conundrum.

BTW, I admire the fact that you've got a Vince Evans dirk - I've seen a few of them and they are to die for! I've got one by Glenn McClain and two by Mike McRae - all sharp.

[Orvis]

Whoops! In a previous post, I expressed my admiration of Geoff Withnell having a Vince Evans dirk. Then I noticed that it was actually MacRob that had that dirk. My apology - Murphy's Law was in full operation!

[Geoff Withnell]

No problems, Orvis. BTW I have also been to the Maryland RennFair, and I prefer Pennsylvania for several reasons.
1. The weapons policy I spoke of. BTW there is an excellent forge on the grounds at PArennfair.
2. The cast are more interactive. E.g., when I was there with a gaggle of grandkids, dressed as princesses, princes and pirates, every time a cast member would walk by us, they would bow deeply to the kids, with great sweeping gestures and "Your majesties!" The kids ate it up.
3. Paved walkways
4. Running water and flush toilets.

[MacRob]

That's OK...I am familiar with those other two guys as well. Glen McClain's work is possibly the best I have seen and very authentic. I have been fortunate enough to meet and spend time with Vince and Grace, two really fine people. Addressing Orvis here.