There is a time and a place for the dirk, be it be-jewelled or plain. That said, the proper occasions for wearing one are few and far bewteen. Now given that a first class dress dirk will set you back a minimum of $1,000 these days, and a look-alike Chinese copy can be be had for under $50, I can see no point in trying to impress people by wearing one. On lookers will either think, "What a berk to spend all that money on an antique," or they'll think "What a berk-- who's he trying to impress with that piece of tat?"

Whether it's 19th century silver, or 21st century Shanghi, wearing a dirk makes people thing you are a real wally about 95% of the time. The other 5%? Well, that's when it's appropriate to wear one.

As far as sgians dubh are concerned, wear the real thing, or nothing at all. Fake is fake, and gentlemen don't do fake.