[Dan D'Silva]

Hello again.

Anyone ever seen anything like this?
https://www.militariahub.com/new-c-1750-scottish-highlanders-staghorn-dirk-new/

I'd like to believe this is accurately dated, but I've never seen anything else quite like it. While there are plenty of antler-handled Scottish knives from then, the only other antler-handled dirks I've seen are from the 19th century or later; most are modern. On the other hand, the blade looks like a cut-down sword, not a Victorian or modern dirk (although of course such a thing could have been done in a later period). The flat iron furniture puts me somewhat in mind of a blacksmith-made Bowie.

I e-mailed the site a week ago to ask how they arrived at this date, but haven't heard back.

[Perry L. Goss]

Have seen this before along with some others. Not sure as to dating and origin.

I do recall Tom McDonald saying years ago that on a trip of his to a Scottish museum that the person who was guiding him took him to the storage room. And that there were items there, original and period that essentially would never see the light of day. As they were not...typical Scottish dirks that we are familiar with.

Many were fairly crude as well.

My wording, not his exactly. But, you get the idea.

There are others on the forum far more knowledgeable than I am.

It is a very cool blade though!

[Dan D'Silva]

Thanks. That's... tantalizing. Any idea which museum it was?