Hello,

This is my first post on this forum. I am looking for help in retrieving a late 18th century dirk which was stolen during shipping from Manitoba, Canada to Aix-en-Provence, France, at some point between April 14th and May 18th, either in Canada or in France, inside the Postal service shipping system (which has been of no help in any way and declines any responsibilitu, as usual). The parcel was delivered open, and the dirk and its by-knife and fork had been removed, but the wrapping left inside. Some odd facts lead to a slight suspicion that the seller never sent it and simulated the theft, but I have no proof for this allegation and don't quite believe it. However, the dirk could surface on the Canadian market as well as in Europe, most likely in a lfew months.

The stolen dirk belongs to a very particular series of nearly identical silver mounted dirks attributed to D. McIntyre, Kenmore, ca. 1795-1820. Three such dirks are depicted in James Forman's book on The Scottish dirk (1991/1993), p. 20, N° 18 and Forman's article on the same topic in The Gun Report, 41, n° 8n January 1996, p. 20, n° 1 and p. 22, n° 3. Another one, the Menzies dirk, was sold by Bow-Well Antiques, Edinburgh and can still be viewed on their website via Google, a fifth was sold on auction as former property to Francis MacNab.

My own dirk is in a slightly more damaged shape than these, but still very good. Some silver studs are missing and one of the suspension chains on the back has come apart.

It is highly unlikely that any other dirk of this kind should be fresh to the market in a long time. If you see its like, it will be my dirk.

I would, in this case, be very very grateful to anyone who could send me the link without alerting the new "owner", who might or might not be involved in the theft. I want desperately to get this dirk back, not the money involved. I would also offer a reward.

Here is a link to pictures and further information which I have posted on another website.



http://forums.bobdunsire.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131258

Many thanks!

I wish you the best of luck in tracking down your dirk, Andreas. I'm really disappointed to hear about the loss of your investment through ebay. I hope that it turns up soon and those involved in the theft of it are brought to justice. :(

Thanks,
Todd