Hi folks...

I've been asked by a customer to make a scottish-style dirk blade with rondel guards. I have not been able to find references to these... but have been told they did indeed exist.

Any ideas?

I don't know what a "Scottish dirk blade" would be... a Scottish dirk is the whole weapon, not simply the blade. Scottish dirks are extremely varied as far as blade shapes and styles.

Have you read our spotlight article on the rondel dagger? A dagger with rondels is a rondel dagger. Simple as that. Like the Scottish Dirk, there is a lot of variety to be found as far as blade properties.

Both spotlights linked in this post.

Scottish Dirks have a great variety to the blade shapes, lengths, geometries, and other characteristics. They are found fullered, non-fullered--and when fullered, can be seen with a great variety to the number and pattern of fullers. They are single edged, occasionally double-edged, and often with a false edge. They can be found with cut-down sword blades and that opens up a whole other degree of diversity. Some might be found with gimping on their spine, others not. Some might have a "fuller" running down the spine, some are left completely blank. Some might have a shaped spine (like a "T") while others won't. Some blade geometries might be a wedge-shape, others with more parallel faces and a thick edge, while others might have a concave shape. Some blades might be extremely thick, while others might be shockingly thin. Re-inforced points can be found on dirk blades--or not. Ricassos can be found on dirk blades--or not.

The form called a "Scottish dirk" is a description of the entire weapon, not the blade.

Just as much diversity--no, even more--can be found on rondel daggers. Examples are found that are thrust-only, cut-oriented, or a combination of both. Examples that have blades with all kinds of variety to their fullers can be found, as can non-fullered blades. Blah blah blah... you get the idea.

Sounds like your client just wants a rondel dagger with a single-edged blade and a sharp tip. Sounds fair. There's example like that... a couple are in the spotlight even (which only shows a tiny, tiny bit of what is out there...)

Here are some photos of some replica drinks that closely match originals. The blades of these three are extremely dissimilar to each other. One has a wedge-shaped blade with a spine that is 5/16" thick at its base (!) with a sharp false edge. Another has a very straight-edged blade with multiple fullers, a robust tip, and a false edge. The third has a very thin and more founded tip-section, a single shallow fuller, and a graceful curve to its edge.

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I wonder if the client was thinking of a few oddball dirks with plate guards (see below). But Nathan's right, there is no one form of dirk blade (nor ballock, nor rondel). Tons of variety.

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From an old Peter Finer catalogue, I believe.

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From an old Peter Finer catalogue, I believe.

Thank you Chad.. that is what I was looking for. I'm sure that is what he meant.

I completely understand that there is a variety in dirk blades... But I still can't help but see a characteristic in MOST dirk blades that scream dirk to me as a generality. Even in the examples Nathan has just shown. And it's not fullers and gimping and grind. I know there are variations... but I just can't help it! :-) A better argument (for me) is the rondel. There does seem to be a larger variation within that theme... even though I typically think of the thick, heavy spike-type or 'misericorde'. You are right.. he is probably thinking of a rondel.. even though those seem to be out of context with the persona he portrays as a Scottish Highlander.. with rondels being mostly 'knightly' daggers.