We've been kicking around the proper wearing of the Dirk and I'm presently having one made for me - just becaused I want one - but any one know of a place or person who has done an acedemic or historical study of Dirks going back to the post crusade era?

My question is motivated by this.

We know that damascas swords were a product of wootz steel out of India which surprised the crusaders with the sharpness and beauty of the steel. Many (?) of these swords were brought back from the crusades both broken and in tact by the survivors of the crusades.

Many dirks apparently, were made from broken or cut off swords. At least that is the conventional wisdom I keep running into as I read about the Dirk.

Does any one know or has any one evidence that a sword of hammered steel (Damascas) been made into a Dirk with the broken off point of the sword?

Can anyone direct me to an authority on this topic