Regimental dirk question

[Bruce Scott]

Here's one that was listed as genuine MOD issue that went for $124.99 on Ebay.
Dirk3.JPG

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/British-Army-...-/300924437677

[Dughlas mor]

I second what Mike S said. The Windlass dirk is pretty good quality for the price. It is a copy of the one pictured in Bruce Scott`s post, a piper`s and drummers dirk, I believe. I own one, and I like it.

[Mike S]

Here's one that was listed as genuine MOD issue that went for $124.99 on Ebay.
Dirk3.JPG

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/British-Army-...-/300924437677

That is another model that Windless Steelcraft used to offer, but I believe is no longer made. The blade etching and wood grip is identical with both models, only the scabbard and pommel feature different fittings. That is the full retail price that was charged by most retailers for that item.

If you poke around the web, you can find a few retailers who still have a few in stock.

The MOD claim is spurious, and supported only by the fact that some governments purchase select items from this contractor (including a few Nepalese Gurkha ones). The Highland Regiments in the U.K. do not however.

[Raymond]

It has been a while and I have been just sitting back. If you are looking for a quality "live" fighting dirk, the CAS Hanwei dirk is a good one - $100 plus or minus. They are in high demand right now because it is the dirk that "Jamie" carries on Outlander. This is a blade that will stand up in a fight.

http://www.kultofathena.com/product....+Scottish+Dirk

the second is the Cold Steel Dirk this is also a quality product for the money, around $110 plus or minus. This is battle ready and can stand up in a true fight.

http://www.kultofathena.com/product....+Scottish+Dirk

Finally there is the Windlass Damascus Dirk. It is actually a good blade for the money and has a lot of positive reviews out on the knife boards. It is good looking and for around $80 is a good buy.

http://www.kultofathena.com/product....Scottish+Dirk+

I own the windlass and I have my eye on the other two as well. I would like to get the CAS but again it is hard to find due to its popularity right now. Most places have it on back order.

Hope this helps.

Ray

[Mike S]

There are PLENTY of historical dirk patterns (bullock, roundel etc.) available in the sub $200 price range Ray, however the original poster is looking specifically for one in a Regimental style.

[Mike S]

If you are looking for a Bullock pattern dirk as mentioned in your post Ray, there are many vendors who stock similar models (although not the Chinese make you specified) from Windless and others via Celtic Croft, Atlanta Cutlery/Museum Replicas and so forth.

[Dughlas mor]

jlm, you might want to look at the dirk offered by Universal Swords at the Kult of Athena site. From what I`ve heard, their quality is not bad, though perhaps not as good as Windlass. The handle looks like cast resin, but the rest of it looks pretty good. Anyway, it`s the style you`re looking for, and the price is not bad.

[Mike S]

Also check out the Crazy Crow Trading Post site, as they carry a few Indian made Dirks including two semi regimental style, at reasonable prices for decent quality.

[OC Richard]

I did a while thread a while back comparing an Indian-made pipers' dirk to an actual English-made MOD issue pipers' dirk that I picked up for around $130 on Ebay.

Here are the photos for you to compare. These Indian-made dirks can be had very cheaply, around $30, and they often have a decent quality steel blade and a carved wooden handle.

This dirk style was issued to the pipers of a number of the Highland regiments, including The Black Watch, from around the mid-19th century up to today. The pattern never changed very much.

Here the Indian-made dirk is at top, the MOD dirk at bottom. The MOD dirk's handle has a more elegant and traditional shape.



closeup of the handles



the backside of the handles. You can see INDIA marked on one blade, the curious military etched markings on the other



Here are the MOD markings: the usual Broad Arrow, some mysterious numbers, 1986 (presumably the year), and the letter H in a diamond.



Each dirk has a crown at the top. Curiously, the MOD dirk, presumably made in 1986, has the pre-1953 "Kings" crown (at left)



I don't know if it shows clearly, but the MOD scabbard (at bottom) has a flat face, the Indian dirk a curved face.



This style of Indian dirk looks pretty darn close to the real MOD dirk considering how inexpensive they are.

Here's one on Ebay now for under $25

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-Reg...item43caa784ba

Here is this style dirk being worn by a Black Watch piper 150 years ago