Jacobite/ Repro 18th Century Style Dirk

**Erikm** · 11th December 10, 07:23 PM

Hello anyone want to sell there Reproduction Jacobite/18th Century Style Dirk? Looking for something for Christmas around $300.00

Thanks Erik M willun98@yahoo.com

**Sir William** · 12th December 10, 08:00 AM

You might try Scotia Metalworks. Their dirks are decent for the price though the scabbards leave much to be desired. Glenn Mcclain of West Fork Forge makes some outstanding dirks but they are way beyond your expressed budget.

http://www.scotiametalwork.com/page49.html

**Dale Seago** · 12th December 10, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Sir William

You might try Scotia Metalworks. Their dirks are decent for the price though the scabbards leave much to be desired. Glenn Mcclain of West Fork Forge makes some outstanding dirks but they are way beyond your expressed budget.

http://www.scotiametalwork.com/page49.html

Any idea how one might contact Mr. McClain?

**Erikm** · 12th December 10, 10:37 AM

Thank you will give them a try

**Sir William** · 13th December 10, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by Dale Seago

Any idea how one might contact Mr. McClain?

I've got his card somewhere and will send you contact information. It's best to call. Glenn doesn't use e-mail.

**Woodsheal** · 14th December 10, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Tamson

There are actually some decent "Jacobite style" dirks out there that don't cost an arm and a leg. John Barnett offers a few 18th century styles of dirks that are by no means bad for the money. I've seen some like this on ebay for less than $100 with free shipping:

Here's that one for sale:
http://highlandarmoury.com/scottish-...on-p-2354.html

The sheath is hideous, but the carved grip and haunches look pretty darn good for a non-custom "production" dirk. The style is mid- to late-1600s. Wish they showed the blade....

**Dale Seago** · 14th December 10, 03:05 PM

I really can't recommend the Barnett line, unless you want one just for looks -- in which case they're not bad at all.

Not long ago I picked up the "18th Century Officers Dirk", with a view to wearing it on dressier occasions. However, I can't abide "weapon-like objects" that are not actually functional weapons, so. . .

This dirk is advertised as having a sharpened blade of EN45 spring steel. That's a decent steel, different from but "functionally comparable" to the 5160 used by a lot of American bladesmiths. It's all a matter of the heat treatment. What I found is that the blade was only "sharpened" relative to being able to cut something along the lines of warm butter; and in fact the edge needed reshaping in order to be actually sharpenable.

It's designed to look like a cut-down backsword blade, and that type of blade would have a "lenticular" or (in cross section) lens-shaped edge (often referred to in the US as a "convex" or "Moran" edge after knifemaker Bill Moran), which this dirk did not. I found someone in San Francisco who, working by hand with Japanese water stones, could reshape it to that type of edge. In the process it was found that (1) the steel was very soft, meaning it had not been heat-treated for any sort of actual use; and (2) the blade had been chrome-plated, meaning there now are minute scratches in the plating which can only be eliminated by grinding off all the plating and repolishing the blade, far more trouble than it would be worth.

**EldarKinSlayer** · 15th December 10, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Dale Seago

I really can't recommend the Barnett line, unless you want one just for looks -- in which case they're not bad at all.

Not long ago I picked up the "18th Century Officers Dirk", with a view to wearing it on dressier occasions. However, I can't abide "weapon-like objects" that are not actually functional weapons, so. . .

This dirk is advertised as having a sharpened blade of EN45 spring steel. That's a decent steel, different from but "functionally comparable" to the 5160 used by a lot of American bladesmiths. It's all a matter of the heat treatment. What I found is that the blade was only "sharpened" relative to being able to cut something along the lines of warm butter; and in fact the edge needed reshaping in order to be actually sharpenable.

It's designed to look like a cut-down backsword blade, and that type of blade would have a "lenticular" or (in cross section) lens-shaped edge (often referred to in the US as a "convex" or "Moran" edge after knifemaker Bill Moran), which this dirk did not. I found someone in San Francisco who, working by hand with Japanese water stones, could reshape it to that type of edge. In the process it was found that (1) the steel was very soft, meaning it had not been heat-treated for any sort of actual use; and (2) the blade had been chrome-plated, meaning there now are minute scratches in the plating which can only be eliminated by grinding off all the plating and repolishing the blade, far more trouble than it would be worth.

The web site describes it as being "Battle Ready". What do they plan on fighting with a blunt chrome plated funnily shaped club?