I'm still trying to sort out the different styles of dirks, so I'm going to post some pics and maybe the rabble can help me classify in order to understand. There appears to be a historicity to the various styles and it is interesting to me that older styles still seem to be widely available.
Pre 1700 style, antler handled dirks?
Made by Sheffield Knives
Jacobite, early 18th century, or "early" style dirks, which evolved from ballock dagger (not that I know what a ballock dagger is)?
Made by Michael Tinker Pearce
Made Cas Hanwei
Made by Vince Evans (with sgian dubh and sgian achlais)
Late 18th century style dirk?
As sold by Southern Swords
19th century style dress, officer's, or piper's dirks?
Made by Pooley Swords
*edit
Here is a link to an article I found about dirks that answers most of my questions:
http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/dirk.html
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