Highland Revival Dirk?

[figheadair]

Came across this in an antique shop the other day. Claimed to be c1800. Thoughts?

[Woodsheal]

Hmmm... It sure resembles the brass-hilted dirks of a century earlier!





The blade's central fuller is not typical. It's either an excellent "revival" dirk, or should more properly be labeled "ca. 1700"! I'm leaning towards the latter....

[Ryan Ross]

Cut down broadsword blade? It looks double edged, to me.

[Chas]

Cut down broadsword blade? It looks double edged, to me.

I thought most of them were.

Regards

Chas

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Hmm... the hilt looks to be rather rough cast, and the blade is far from what one might expect from your typical brass-hilted dirk. What gives me the most concern is the pommel nut which appears to be "machine made". I'd want to take it apart before I parted with any money; there are a lot of crude fakes coming out of China, and it is possible that this might be one.

[Ryan Ross]

I thought most of them were.

Regards

Chas

To my knowledge, if they were not purpose forged as dirk blades, they were usually made from cut down backsword blades, and thus (at least part of the way) single edged.

I swear, this one looks like it came from a broadsword.

[Dale Seago]

I swear, this one looks like it came from a broadsword.

While most that weren't purpose-forged as dirks were made from cut-down backsword blades, some were made from broadsword blades and retained the double edge. I've also seen some that appear from the multiple fullering to be from double-edged broadsword blades but ground to be single-edged dirks.

I have to say the look of the pommel on this one is "off".

[Ryan Ross]

While most that weren't purpose-forged as dirks were made from cut-down backsword blades, some were made from broadsword blades and retained the double edge. I've also seen some that appear from the multiple fullering to be from double-edged broadsword blades but ground to be single-edged dirks.

Hmm... That's interesting and good to know. Especially the observation about about grinding off the back edge of the broadsword. I'll have to examine these old dirk blades more carefully, in the future.

I have to say the look of the pommel on this one is "off".

Agreed. It's the washer that's striking me odd. If we had a better shot of that, we might have our answer.

[orvice]

The shape of the hilt certainly looks early-mid 18th c., but that pommel looks like the end of a tulip-head pipe drone. How long is the hilt/grip/pommel overall? I've not seen an original with a total hilt assembly length over 4.5 inches. A too-long hilt unit might indicate a latter dirk, or a modern forgery. The pommel, in addition to its shape, seems to have the end of the pommel as a separate plate held on by the tang screw - haven't seen one of those before.

The blade looks like it came from a broadsword (agreed, Dale, that there were some cut-down double-edge broadsword blades used for Highland dirks) and has either a real patina or has been skillfully aged.

Not saying that this dirk isn't a truly old one, but an arms expert should examine the dirk to ensure that you're not paying good money for a forgery. Is there any information on the dirk's provenance? That, too, might help determine if the dirk is the genuine article.

[Ryan Ross]

The pommel, in addition to its shape, seems to have the end of the pommel as a separate plate held on by the tang screw - haven't seen one of those before.

I noticed that, too.

Do we think it's possible that there could be a decorative groove incised around the perimeter of the pommel, and that it's not a separate plate held on by the tang?

Also, has anyone ever seen a spiral pattern like that, rather than concentric rings, on a brass hilted dirk before?