[Robert W. Betten]

I know myArmoury has a few collectors and admirers of dirks, and since the picture hosting for one thread (Mac's one called a dirk for every day of the week, something like that) has expired or been removed i'd love to see some more pictures of either historical, reproductions be it custom or production (semi-custom). Also pictures of Sgian Dubh you guys have and where you got them, I've want to own a good quality Sgian with a carnigorn (smokey quartz) one day.

Also a little more on the history, as in the carrying laws regarding dirks historically (while the british had full lordship), how were they most commonly used? blade facing the top of the hand on reversed with a targe? or were there really no styles of use as a weapon. With the cut down swords made into dirks was this really probable or like the myArmoury artical would they have been a utilisation of a broken blade made of a good steel?

Frankly the dirk intreages me, its such a powerful icon of scotland and i personally would rather go against someone versed with a sword then someone highly versed in using a dirk.

The picture I have attached are three dirks armor class currently have, I picked the one to the right and one of the others is sold...But i'm very happy with the service from Armor class, just await to see there quality.

[Chad Arnow]

The Scottish Dirk spotlight has some info on using a dirk with a targe.

There are plenty of pics floating around this site of antiques and repros, too. My collection and Nathan's collection feature dirks by Vince Evans. I have a sgian achles and a sgian dubh as well: http://www.myArmoury.com/collections.html

A search of the photo albums pull us quite a few antiques and repros: http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/thumbnails.ph...earch=dirk

There are also 2 reviews of dirks by Vince Evans on the reviews page: http://www.myArmoury.com/reviews.html

Happy hunting!

[Chad Arnow]

[Thomas McDonald]

A couple of ways of gripping the dirk while keeping control of the targe !





The only real issue I see with this combined method of use is that you could easily sink the dirk into your own leg, or worse, in the heat of battle ! But I suppose a well trained Hielander would be well aware and avoid such mishaps !

Mac

[Robert W. Betten]

Chad thanks for showing me something i didnt know myArmoury had! I knew of the picture archive but didnt notice the search function...this forum is a treasure trove of goodies sword/edged weapon related! The use of a dirk is quite interesting considering the length of the blades on some dirks, the concentration level needed to use a basket hilt in one hand, deflect blows with the targe if needed and control where the dirks point is going definately shows the scottish wernt just flailing about like a "beserker". A more refined method of fighting probably learnt on the battle field and in the villages rather then in elite schools like upper class warriors of england and such would have had.

I've always been into scottish weapons and warfare and Mac your picture REALLY helps...Thats also a very impressive targe, who made that one for you? Armour class targes seem to be really good aesthetically but cant tell much else about them.

[Henrik Bjoern Boegh]

Robert, I believe those Armour Class targes are made by Lindsay (the Targemaker: www.targemaker.co.uk ).

Mac, What about having the targe strapped further onto the arm and having the durk pointing forward???

Cheers,
Henrik

[Jean Le-Palud]

Hello,
Here is a picture of my sgian dubh, it was made by Carel Smith (custom) from...South Africa, I got it from Blade Gallery

[Chad Arnow]

[Chad Arnow]

[David Wilson]

Okay, here are some Dirks (and a Sgian Achlais):

[Chris Goerner]

David,

Very nice! Who made the top two dirks? Any close ups of the hilts?

You don't need to tell me who made the bottom two

-- Chris

[Matthew Kelty]

>since the weight of the targe would slow the left arm in a strike.

>The weight of the targe, the length of the dirk's blade, and the difficulty in dealing with straps would all contribute to >making it hard to effectively use the blade of the dirk without getting yourself killed (by opening yourself to attack).

I can't recall where the images came from, so it may likely have been some Victorian nonsense, but what we'd attempted after seeing some of the depictions was holding it just like in the second folder, only perhaps with the blade slightly less perpendicular to the arm, a little more slope towards the elbow. The technique involves a press forward and up with the targe, and then plunging down. The dirk's point sticking out about four inches beyond the rim of the targe makes this quite feasible, and with the targe moving up towards the opponents eyes, conceals your intent until it's too late. It also doesn't rely on speed so much as placement.

Think a left jab/uppercut motion where you pendulum the Targe up and in front, at the apex of your swing, tilt the bottom slightly and plunge. If you're using this to counter a sword cut, it's a quite rapid and efficient motion.

[Chad Arnow]

[David Wilson]

[Ken Jay]

Here's a nice McRae dirk...

[Lee O'Hagan]

Some fine items pictured already,
Hi Jean,welcome to the site,nice to see you posting,

[Thomas McDonald]

A few shots of my Vince Evans pieces !

[Jay Barron]

Here's my ArmArt Dirk...

[Chris Goerner]

[Robert W. Betten]

Does vince have a website he sells from? i did a search and couldnt find anything...I'd really love a Vince Evans piece in my collection eventually!!!