Regimental dirk question

[Mike S]

There are PLENTY of historical dirk patterns (bullock, roundel etc.) available in the sub $200 price range Ray, however the original poster is looking specifically for one in a Regimental style.

[Mike S]

If you are looking for a Bullock pattern dirk as mentioned in your post Ray, there are many vendors who stock similar models (although not the Chinese make you specified) from Windless and others via Celtic Croft, Atlanta Cutlery/Museum Replicas and so forth.

[Dughlas mor]

jlm, you might want to look at the dirk offered by Universal Swords at the Kult of Athena site. From what I`ve heard, their quality is not bad, though perhaps not as good as Windlass. The handle looks like cast resin, but the rest of it looks pretty good. Anyway, it`s the style you`re looking for, and the price is not bad.

[Mike S]

Also check out the Crazy Crow Trading Post site, as they carry a few Indian made Dirks including two semi regimental style, at reasonable prices for decent quality.

[OC Richard]

I did a while thread a while back comparing an Indian-made pipers' dirk to an actual English-made MOD issue pipers' dirk that I picked up for around $130 on Ebay.

Here are the photos for you to compare. These Indian-made dirks can be had very cheaply, around $30, and they often have a decent quality steel blade and a carved wooden handle.

This dirk style was issued to the pipers of a number of the Highland regiments, including The Black Watch, from around the mid-19th century up to today. The pattern never changed very much.

Here the Indian-made dirk is at top, the MOD dirk at bottom. The MOD dirk's handle has a more elegant and traditional shape.



closeup of the handles



the backside of the handles. You can see INDIA marked on one blade, the curious military etched markings on the other



Here are the MOD markings: the usual Broad Arrow, some mysterious numbers, 1986 (presumably the year), and the letter H in a diamond.



Each dirk has a crown at the top. Curiously, the MOD dirk, presumably made in 1986, has the pre-1953 "Kings" crown (at left)



I don't know if it shows clearly, but the MOD scabbard (at bottom) has a flat face, the Indian dirk a curved face.



This style of Indian dirk looks pretty darn close to the real MOD dirk considering how inexpensive they are.

Here's one on Ebay now for under $25

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Reg...item43caa784ba

Here is this style dirk being worn by a Black Watch piper 150 years ago

[Mike S]

Here is the Crazy Crow link to available patterns as discussed in this thread:
http://www.crazycrow.com/dirks

[Hiburnicus]

I think it's interesting that some here seem to hold Windlass Steelcraft in such high regard. I know that in the world of Roman reenactment, windlass products are known to be low quality and unauthentic...they aren't thought very highly of on Sword Forums either.

Just an observation, I'm not trying to stir up an argument.

[Dughlas mor]

My statement about Windlass was "pretty good quality for the price." That certainly isn`t holding them in high regard. In the world of reproduction swords and daggers you generally get what you pay for. There is a lot of utter crap out there that is much less expensive than, in this case, a Windlass dirk. The OP is looking for a specific style of dirk at relatively low price point, and for what he wants, Windlass is a very good option.

[Mike S]

Nor I. The key qualifier here is "for the price".

[OC Richard]

The rub here is what is meant by "regimental dirk".

Some people have posted links to reproduction 18th century dirks, and for sure dirks like that were worn by both army and civilian Highlanders back then.

I posted photos of an original and a reproduction military-issue pipers' dirk which has been worn in some regiments for 150 years now, from around the middle of the 19th century to today.

In the army, from around 1800 to today, dirks are only worn by officers, pipers, and oftentimes bandsmen. The pattern varied by regiment, and moreover one pattern for officers and another for pipers.

About the Indian-made Roman armour, yes, I talked to some local Roman re-enactors and they said the same thing, that it wasn't authentic enough to meet their standards, and that they made all their own armour.