Fake vs real dirk.

[macmanjim]

The blade of my dirk was made in Sheffield, made to order, I had to wait for it. I got it from Jack Adams who is now alas deceased but I think the tradition continues, the blade of my sgain dhu came from the same factory. I made the handles and the sheaths for both myself. I like the work of real craftsmen, Jack Adams was one of the last of them. I would not want a cold steel blade if you paid me to advertise one.

Depends on ones budget. I’m not interested in dirks anyway and to me again dubhs would be a blade of my own choice and what I can afford. The questions I would have are does it work for me ergonomically, how well does it hold an edge and hold up. For me at least, it’s a tool. If I need a dilemma, it would be, should I carry the Hi Power or Commander?

[Liam]

I have 2 dirks, a dress one and a more rustic one. The dress one has been used twice to cut wedding cakes. The rustic one as an accessory with my great kilt at a ren fair and at Halloween.

[kingandrew]

I got a dirk many years ago for some event that seemed to call for one. My funds at the time were limited, so I selected the Bold Blades "Dirk for Dress or Daywear" (http://boldblades.com/html/dirks.html), which combines a very affordable price with a nice, dressy appearance. I do not recall ever having tried to cut with it, so I am unsure how sharp the blade is. Since I did not want to deal with airline security issues, I did not bring my dirk when I relocated to China. So the dirk is in storage in Florida and I cannot check it for sharpness at the moment.

My sgian dubh was a budget model I got with a "kilt package" deal. The blade is very sharp and I have used the knife as a general utility model around the house, opening packages and other such daily chores. It is also in storage.

As a teacher, I wear kilts at school occasions regularly. Given school policies about weapons and my own concerns about student safety, I don't wear any blade with my kilt to school. I do talk a little bit of traditional Scottish weapons in class when we are discussing Robert Burns, but I use images rather than bringing in my own weapons.

I agree with Jock that it is desirable to wear antique or heirloom weaponry with your kilt. However, this is not always so possible, especially for the man on a budget. Even if your Granddad was a dedicated kilt-lover, it is quite possible that he ended up having more grandsons than antique dirks. So some of us will be forced to purchase a new dirk, if we want a dirk in the first place.

I hope this some help to you.

Andrew