Christmas Dirk

[Dale Seago]

The venerable Mr. Claus brought me a handmade Scottish dirk, circa 1700 or so in style; so I have to show it off.

The blade is handforged 5160 carbon steel, differentially heat treated and made to look like a cut-down/reworked backsword blade (many dirks of the early 1700s were made from recycled sword blades, largely due to a series of disarming acts prohibiting swords to civilians). From the point to the bottom of the brass ferrule, the blade is 13 & 1/4 inches in length, with a 5-inch false edge; width at the ferrule is 1 & 3/8 inches. Overall length of the dirk from point to the top of the pommel is 18 & 1/4 inches.

The handle is ebony, with hand-carved Celtic knotwork patterns common to many historic dirks. The pommel cap and ferrule are of cast brass.

Sheath is molded leather coming up slightly onto the haunches, with a leather belt loop attached by a metal D-ring through the sheath leather near the top of the backseam.

Okay, enough jabbering on my part -- here it is!

In the sheath:

Full length:

Handle detail:

"Targe face" motif on top of pommel cap:

An' wi' that I'll wish a warrm an' happy Hogmanay, tae ane an' a'.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Very nice, who is the maker?

 

[Dale Seago]

It's a "hybrid", the blade and handle being made by different makers. The blade is by a well-known ABS smith who owed me a favor, but who would probably prefer not to be named because he makes and sells dirks himself; the handle is by a gentleman named James Taylor who is "teaching himself by doing": This is his 4th effort. You can get more info, and also see "comparison shots" with my other dirks (including James' 3rd effort, "Hamish"), in this thread on the Scottish forum at Sword Forum International. As you'll see, though, we've tried to nudge James into making dirks to sell and he won't do it: this one was, literally, a gift.