Dirks- when and how

[PiobBear]

Perhaps get a more workhorse knife to wear for daily stuff. One without all the shiny bits, faux jewels and eating utensils.

I've got two; a tiny Swiss Army knife on my key ring, and a skian dubh. The smallest one gets the most use.

Even something like a KBar will look good and still have a functional purpose. Look at the dirks from the early and mid 18th century for ideas.

Pray tell, what "functional purpose" (other than the original intended purpose) does a K-Bar, dirk, bollock dagger, or main gauche serve? My very rarely-worn dirk (with the "shiny bits, faux jewels and eating utensils", can be relied upon to cut haggis and, on occasion, wedding cake, with the proper degree of formality and ceremony. Otherwise, it's merely a decoration, like my antique sterling shoe buckles.

I piped a wedding for a USMC captain once; he was in rental prince Charlie, kilt, and snow-white socks, with a K-Bar stuck in his right hose top. I suggested that those who didn't know he was a Marine might be led to suspect that he was overcompensating for some physical shortcoming...

[Woodsheal]

Here's a bladesmith you can commission to build you a practical, non-ornamental dirk (scroll to near the bottom of the page):
http://www.olddominionforge.com/knives.html

Here's another guy:
http://www.scotiametalwork.com/page21.html

Getting back to the original topic: yes, to the right of the sporran, and in front of the hip is the traditional spot to wear your dirk....

[Caradoc]

Here's a bladesmith you can commission to build you a practical, non-ornamental dirk

Thanks! I hadn't seen the Old Dominion Forge.

I'll second a recommendation for Scotia Metalwork, though - this one is actually a picture of a custom sgian he did for me, no exclusivity.