Historical Dirk's

[fortcollinsjerry]

We've been kicking around the proper wearing of the Dirk and I'm presently having one made for me - just becaused I want one - but any one know of a place or person who has done an acedemic or historical study of Dirks going back to the post crusade era?

My question is motivated by this.

We know that damascas swords were a product of wootz steel out of India which surprised the crusaders with the sharpness and beauty of the steel. Many (?) of these swords were brought back from the crusades both broken and in tact by the survivors of the crusades.

Many dirks apparently, were made from broken or cut off swords. At least that is the conventional wisdom I keep running into as I read about the Dirk.

Does any one know or has any one evidence that a sword of hammered steel (Damascas) been made into a Dirk with the broken off point of the sword?

Can anyone direct me to an authority on this topic

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As far as I am aware, there are no surviving examples of a dirk having been made from a broken damascus sword blade. Speaking from personal observation I'm not sure that there were enough broken swords lying around the Highlands to have supplied many dirk blades, damascus or otherwise.

The best general overview of the Highland dirk and its development is The Scottish Dirk by James D. Forman, Museum Restoration Service, PO Box 70, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607-0070, USA. In Canada the address is: PO Box 390, Bloomfield, Ont., K0K 1GO Canada.

[Bigkahuna]

I agree with MacMillan. That is the best reference on Dirks.I used to know both Robert Abels and Norm Flayderman. Both were very knowledgeable on edged weapons. I don't recall ever seeing or hearing them mention a Damascus bladed Dirk in spite of all the conversations we had on Highland weapons.