Brass Hilt Dirk

[mgolab]

I recently purchased this all brass hilt dirk from an 80 year old individual who stated that it was part of her uncle's collection.

Having handled a number of 18th century/early 19th century brass pieces, this hilt seems to have the correct age/patina and lack of uniformity from modern brass. Has a nice weight as well.

Appears to be a sword blade with double fullers, perhaps a maker's mark

blade is slightly under 12.5 inches
hilt is 4.5 inches with pommel nut
17 inches overall
blade is 1.25 inches wide.

[mgolab]

an additional picture

also overall weight is 1 pound, 3.9 oz

[M ELEY]

Wow, Mark! Very nice piece! It is in the exact form of a Scottish dirk and the brass does indeed look old. I'm no expert on these and will step back for the experts. The traditional form of these mostly had a carved wooden knotwork-type grip, but I imagine that this could easily be a more modern (ca. mid-late 19th c.) form. The fact that it is made with a cut-down old sword blade is again indicative of this type of Scottish sidearm. You do come across some amazing finds!

Mark

[francantolin]

Really nice dagger
But can’t it be an african dagger made with an old european blade ?
The small dots reminds me north african models

[Jim McDougall]

Naturally the Capn is spot on! This does appear to be a stylized version of the Scottish dirk, and quite old, I would imagine latter part of 18th c. as the capstan atop the pommel suggests. These all metal types seem to have been well known around end of 17th c. ("the Scottish Dirk", James D. Forman, 1991) and less commonly known are the pewter examples. The use of cut down sword blades, while popular, was not exclusively the case, however the well known quality steel of the German blades was preferred.

Officers of Highland companies of course typically bought silver mounted dirks while troops either bought their own serviceable 'brass mounted' dirks or these were supplied by the regimental colonels.

While in the post Jacobite period dirks and broadswords were gradually given up by ordinary soldiers from the time of the Revolution and after. However it is noted that the Black Watch (42nd Highlanders) kept their dirks until nearly 1830s.

In the pre Culloden days, the dirk was held in the left hand behind the target, and used as required in close quarter fighting with downward stab. The Highlanders learned the importance of the bayonet after Culloden, and with the musket the primary weapon, the bayonet became the immediate secondary.

It was often believed that during the proscription of Highland weapons, the enforcement was quite lax, especially toward the dirk. This was because the Highlander swore oaths and allegiance on the blade of his dirk, and that fiercely observed convention was sacred to him.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by francantolin

Really nice dagger
But can’t it be an african dagger made with an old european blade ?
The small dots reminds me north african models

That is a tempting observation, especially with west African use of brass, and those dots are also compelling. However this example has a certain feel to it with the vestigial haunches recalling the elaborate carved wood and silver studded examples of Highland dirk.

[mgolab]

Wow Gentlemen, thank you very much for the analysis.

I had a good gut feeling about this one when holding it.

I guess this would be an enlisted man's dirk?

what is very interesting is that the dirk blade is sitting here next to the Thomas Gill blade from my other post and it is very similar, age wise and also spine and dimension wise.

[M ELEY]

Incredible find once again, Mark! I'd love to have such a dirk!

Francantolin, at first I'd wondered if this were a Euro blade with ethno hilt as well, but the hilt looked so much like the Scottish dirk patterns I'd seen that I felt confident in that regard.

Jim, thank you for coming in on this one! I never realized there were all-metal hilts on these and thought this one might be a 'one-off' for an officer or some such. Thanks for that valuable information. Seriously, I'd love to find one of these types some day!

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Incredible find once again, Mark! I'd love to have such a dirk!

Francantolin, at first I'd wondered if this were a Euro blade with ethno hilt as well, but the hilt looked so much like the Scottish dirk patterns I'd seen that I felt confident in that regard.

Jim, thank you for coming in on this one! I never realized there were all-metal hilts on these and thought this one might be a 'one-off' for an officer or some such. Thanks for that valuable information. Seriously, I'd love to find one of these types some day!

Apparently this tradition was around since 1700, look at the brass one on the page I posted from Forman (and in Forman, you KNOW its right!).
What makes the example posted here later is the capstan.....I feel like this could well be Black Watch enlisted or sergeants end of 18th c. (IMO).

[mgolab]

Thanks again Jim. That is simply awesome!

As an aside, I have since learned that the surname associated with the piece is Morrison. A lot of information out there about the "Clan Morrison", so I am learning.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by mgolab

Thanks again Jim. That is simply awesome!

As an aside, I have since learned that the surname associated with the piece is Morrison. A lot of information out there about the "Clan Morrison", so I am learning.

As we do here! Together!

[Battara]

Many early dirks like this use dot circles that harken back to old Celtic designs. The African attribution is necessary therefore.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Battara

Many early dirks like this use dot circles that harken back to old Celtic designs. The African attribution is necessary therefore.

Jose, thank you for this note! The Celtic designs were keenly present in various cultures, including Scottish in material culture. One that comes to mind is the dot and circle, which is seen in some Scot weapons, but also turns up in India, Central Asia and the Balkans. As noted, it seems the same simple but notable design/symbol turns up in African culture in degree as well.

While it is hard to say whether these symbols evolved in the convergent sense, or as a result of cultural contact is hard to say, and may apply differently in incidental cases, but as you note, must be considered.

[Battara]

What I meant was it is not necessary for an African attribute.

Many world cultures hold similar structures in beliefs symbols, and artwork. These are not due to so much colonization as to similar archetypes in the mind of the human species, which transfer into cultures, symbols, and arts (according to Dr. Mircea Eliade).

[Jim McDougall]

We're in accord Jose....Im not even sure what I meant or said but what you said sounds good.

[David R]

A classic style and well known and documented for the 17th and 18th centuries.

[mgolab]

I also noticed these marks on the spine of the blade

either a "T" or "P" with a "V" and perhaps a small "M" above