Dirks


	WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND FRIENDS FOR A REALLY GREAT YEAR IN 2012. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AT THE GAMES IN 2013.

The dirk was an essential sidearm of Scottish Highlander and Lowlander alike. In fact, the dirk was considered so necessary that even after the failure of the last Jacobite rebellion, when the government passed a disarming act, persons deemed in need of something for personal protection - drovers, merchants and the like - were permitted to carry dirks. The dirk is a direct descendant of the knives carried by medieval armored knights which they used to dispatch wounded foes, or as a weapon of last resort. In later medieval times the dudgeon dagger and ballock knives. The dirk as it is most familiar developed about the mid-17th century at the same time becoming the most common weapon in Scotland. Stylistically it went through many changes but a few characteristics are most common. The blades were long in proportion to the grips, some times as long as 18 inches and were single-edged usually with one or more fullers, or lightening grooves (not blood grooves as they are commonly called). Many dirk blades came from cut down or broken swords. The handles were made of wood, bone, brass, pewter and some times antler. The wooden handles tended to be profusely carved with interlaced designs referred to as knot work. Dirks were carried in leather sheaths, usually suspended from the front of the waist belt next to the sporran. This was so they could be easily reached with the non-sword hand in combat. From early times many dirks were equipped with small knives stored out the outside of the sheaths. There were even some dirks with knives, forks or spoons in the sheath. After the Jacobite era, especially into the Victoria era, dirks became more of an ornament than a weapon and many officers and bandsmen of the Highland Regiments wore them. As an ornament the dirk became more gaudy and less practical although many Victorian era dirks are quite attractive and extremely well made. An example of a 19th c. dirk is shown below. It is not for sale.

THE COLD STEEL DIRK

If you want a fighting dirk with the classic style of the 18th c. and made with the technology of the 21st, then this is your dirk. A 13 inch 1050 carbon steel blade with fuller and wedge shaped cross section is what tips it off immediately. The decorated rosewood handle, carved and fitted with studs, is topped by a blued steel pommel cap and joined to the blade by a classic blued steel guard. The sheath is equipped with a blued steel throat and tip and an integral carry strap. Each dirk, like our Cold Steel Broad Sword, comes with a certificate showing it has passed the British blade proof test.

A grand dirk for only $150 plus $8 post and packing.

THE CULLODEN DIRK

For a long time the Culloden Dirk (below left) has been one of our most popular blades. The design is typical of the early 1700s and many of Prince Charlie’s Highlanders carried dirks similar to this one at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The single-edge blade is wedge-shaped in cross section and tapers to a wicked point. The hilts is made of streaked mahogany and topped with a brass pommel cap. The sheath is made from thick, hardened, hand-sewn buffalo hide. This leather may show some imperfections because it is made from all natural material. The overall length is 20 inches and the blade in 13.5 inches.

Sorry but we are no longer stocking this item. The manufacturer has increased the cost to the point that we cannot sell it at a reasonable price


		DIRK FOR DRESS OR DAYWEAR



			The Dirk for Dress or Daywear (shown above) has also been popular with our customers. Patterned after a 19th c. officer’s dirk marked “Molle”, it is less expensive and will serve as a dirk for someone new to Scottish attire or who has been wearing it for years. The dirk is 17 inches overall with an 11.5 inch blade., which is etched in the traditional Scottish thistle pattern. The black wood hilt is carved in a Celtic weave and decorated with nickel silver tacks. The wooden sheath is covered with black leather and embellished with bright fittings decorated with thistles. Like all our other dirks, it is equipped with an integral carry sheath. This is a handsome dirk appropriate fro wear on all occasions. . Yours for $70 plus $8 packing and post.


	THE BONNY DIRK

The Bonny Dirk is a 19th c. regimental style dirk. This very nice dirk has a black wood handle with carved basket weave and nickel silver studs placed at intersections of the lines. Note the “thistle shape” of the grip, which is also found on the Dirk for Dress or Daywear. The blade is 11.75 inches long and etched with the thistle and foliate designs frequently found on 19th c. regimental dirks. The blades has a five inch false edge and jimped back. The nickel silver pommel cap is undecorated but could be engraved should you decide to personalize it. The sheath is wood, covered with leather and highlighted with a nickel silver throat and tip and an integral carry strap.

This attractive dirk can be yours for $110 plus $8 packing and post.

BOLD BLADES SHOP MADE DIRKS

Occasionally, as materials are available and time permits. We assemble some dirks in our workshop. We usually make two styles, the Basic Dirk and the Stag Hilted dirk. The Basic Dirk has a wooden handle with a Celtic knot pommel decoration. We use factory made blades to which we fit handles. We also supply a basic leather sheath. Recently we have found a source of Sambar stag. Sambar stag is an Indian deer whose antlers have small cores and a very nice consistency. These antlers can be worked well and fit the blades we use nicely (style of blade may vary). Unfortunately it has been generally unavailable for ten years as the Indian government placed an embargo on export, probably to combat poaching. We have located a small supply of this material in, of all places, Scotland. We will let you know as we have these dirks available. The price of the Basic Dirk is $55 plus $7 packing and post. The Sambar dirks will be POR as the cost of the antler fluctuates.

OTHER DAGGERS

The Ballock Dagger

Ballock daggers were the forerunner of the Scottish Dirk. These daggers were first used in the 14th c. and gradually morphed into the dirk. Also referred to as knight’s daggers they were worn on the front of the belt so they can easily be reached. The “haunches” on the grip became smaller over a period of time until they were just remnants like those on the Culloden Dirk above. The prudish Victorians referred to these as “kidney daggers” although one has to wonder where they came up with that name. Our dagger is 12 inches over all with a 7 inch blade. The handle is hardwood with a steel pommel cap. Comes with a correct leather sheath for just...

$20 plus $5 packing and post

THE RONDEL DAGGER

The Rondel Dagger, shown above and with detail of the engraving on the blade, was very popular throughout Europe in medieval times and the Renaissance. The term comes from the round handle - in our case a spiral version, similar to the grip on the Twisted Hilt Claymore - and the round or octagonal - in our case - pommel. The overall length is 16 3/4 inches with an 11 3/4 inch blade. Comes with a leather sheath. Only $42 plus $8 packing and post


	THE KISSING CRANE BOWIE


		From time to time we have offered inexpensive Bowie knives, mainly to our customers at the Highland Games. Recently we ran across a product review for the knife you see at the right. We immediately went to our suppliers and found that we could order the Kissing Crane bowie. We got a sample and loved it. The first one went into our private collection. Now we can offer them to you. 16 1/2 inches over all, the jimped stainless steel blade comes in at just over 11 inches from guard to tip. The grip is imitation antique ivory, a nice touch. Comes with a heavy duty 100% leather sheath. We think you will find this to be a very good quality knife for many occasions. Cowboy Action Shooters will appreciate this knife as well as Civil War Re-enactors. Yours for $75 plus $8 packing and post

In days of old, cutlery was scarce. Most people carried a wooden spoon to eat their porridge and an eating knife for those rare occasions when they had meat. When meat was served it was usually eaten from a wood plank since fine china was far in the future. So, not only did our yeoman have a knife, he also had a pick to hold the meat to the plank while he cut it. Our Medieval Eating Knife Set echoes those early times which were anything but romantic.

This neat little set has a stainless steel blade and pick along with a leather sheath for both and ties to hook it on your belt. The handles are of bone and the blades of stainless steel - very sharp by the way. A nice item to take to the Highland Games or Renaissance Faire for the small sum of...

$27 plus $5 packing & Post.


		MEDIEVAL EATING KNIFE SET