X Marks the Scot - An on-line community of kilt wearers.
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11th January 09, 07:53 PM
#8
It is really difficult to assess "originality" from an on-line photograph. That said, there are a few markers that make me think that this may not be a recent Indian/Chinese import.
The first consideration is condition-- the by-knife and fork show wear on the finish of the handles that might be consistent with age. Next, the setting of the stones appears to be fairly well done, and a cut or two better than one might expect on a cheap import. The tack decoration is another indication that the dirk wasn't "made down to a price" in a sweatshop in Kowloon or Dheradun. Also, the sharpness of the stamping on the mounts and the detail of the thistles on the pommel of the dirk seem to be of a better quality level than one usually encounters with cheap Sino-Indian imports. The suede cover of the scabbard may be original or, just as likely, a repair done sometime in the past. The fact that there are no Battle Honours on the blade means nothing-- Officer's dirks were privately purchased, and the amount of decoration was dictated by the depth of the officer's sporran. Finally, this may be a privately purchased Pipe Major's dirk, which might be different from that of an officer, or it could be of war-time manufacture which would explain the lesser quality compared to a pre-war item.
One of the tell-tale signs of most Chinese (and many Indian) copies is the composition of the hilt and handles. These should be of wood, not molded plastic. The fittings are usually silver, silver plate or nickle-- chrome plated fittings are an exception, not the rule.
Having not handled the piece, I can only hazard a guess-- and it's just that, a guess-- that this may have been made sometime after WWII for sale to an impecunious subby, an ex-servicemen or for sale along Sauchiehall Street.
To recover the scabbard or to etch the blade you should contact Mr. Ray Crisp, Crisp and Sons, Sword Culters. Ray was formerly with Wilkinson Sword and is the only man in the world I'd trust to work on one of my swords or dirks. Google: Crisp and Sons Sword Cutlers for their address in England.
Last edited by MacMillan of Rathdown; 11th January 09 at 07:59 PM.
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