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Antique Mid-18th Century dirk
I was fortunate enough to get this dirk from George Neumann when he was breaking up his collection in the early 1980's. I don't believe this one is illustrated in any of his books. His feeling, and I agreed, was that it was mid-18th century, as it had features older and but a shape newer than events c. 1745-6. He did not believe the scabbard was original. After I got it I learned a couple things. First, shortly after I got it I saw an almost exact match to this scabbard in the dirk collection at Inverary Castle. (George admitted later that was one on him.) Second, others with blade experience noted the fuller running down the back of the blade. Their comment was that this was a 17th century detail. Based on the fuller and overall blade proportions it seems the blade was made as a dirk blade in the late 17th or early 18th century, rather than cut down from a sword as some were. For whatever reason a new handle and scabbard were made in the mid-18 century. (Speculation is fun...)
You can see damage to the to of the scabbard chape. I don't think it is visible in the pictures, but there is a crack running top to bottom in the handle.
Open to comments and any opinions. A lot has been learned in the last 40 years, so I'm open.
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