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#1 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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Well once again I'm over here in this section, only sharing my first Scottish dirk. Due to the shape of the baluster hilt, the silver studs, and screw top, I place this example in the late 18c to early 19c, leaning toward the late 18c.
The first picture is how I got it with a bent blade. The second picture is after my cleaning and restoration. |
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#2 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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Pictures of the hilt and pommel top.
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#3 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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Here are the engravings on the front and back of the silver mounts of the hilt and scabbard. The name: "J McLeod". There is a crown stamp and the pictures of cannons, battle flags, and swords, and spears indicate to me that this person was also an officer in the British military.
My 2 questions: 1. Does the presence of cannons indicate being part of an artillery unit? 2. What does "RB 2" mean? Other comments welcomed as well. |
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#4 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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That also looks like a Gorget engraved on one of the panels.
So, officer? Oh yeah Jose ; "There can be only one.." ![]() |
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#5 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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GOOD POINT RICK! I missed that. Many thanks.
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#6 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,896
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Jose!!! This is an absolutely phenomenal dirk!! and my Highland blood is raging with envy
![]() I have been going through resources for hours and I feel confident this example is much as you have suggested, but I think more toward 1770s because of the wider 'haunches' in the beautifully Celtic knot baluster hilt. The metal studs are of this period to 1790s. Whitelaw (1908 (1977), p.313) notes that after the Disarming Acts of 1746, following the tragedy at Culloden, proscribed Scots from owning weapons. However the dirk, with its utilitarian purposes was typically permitted, and often the now banned Scottish basket hilts were dismantled and blades repurposed into those for dirks. This blade seems likely to be one of these blades as its profile seems contrary to most specifically for dirks, and the fuller at the forte resemble known Solingen backsword blade types. Clearly this dirk is for an officer in a Scottish regiment of the third quarter 18th c.+ as suggested by the military motif, the gorget, sword, cannons and the RB 2 is of course likely a regimental unit. This may well be a heirloom blade mounted in military dress as noted. It would be exciting to imagine that the heirloom blade was in use at the time of Culloden. The cannon do not suggest artillery ...perhaps the RB 2 could mean Rifle Battalion 2 or some such designation but those units seem much later. The style of pommel and the mounts predate the familiar stone mounted dirk pommels which began around 1800. It is amazing to have the scabbard also! This is truly amazing Jose, congratulations! Sources: "The Scottish Dirk" James D. Forman, 1991 "The Scottish Armoury" D. Caldwell, 1979 "Scottish Arms Makers" Charles Whitelaw, 1908 (1977) " Scottish Swords & Dirks", John Wallace, 1970 |
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#7 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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Oh Jim, I was excited to be able to get this. I am generally not interested in any Scottish dirk past 1800 due to the transformation of the hilt.
Rifle battalion - not thought of that. The hard part is the first name - James or John? Still researching this. Thanks for your well informed input! I have the first and last references, but not the 2 middle ones. BTW - I know I have Irish blood, but Scottish - maybe-ish (if so, perhaps from the McKinnon clan who fought alongside the McDonalds with Bonnie prince Charlie at Culloden!). |
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