jacobite shirt and a dirk

[Tobus]

Something else to consider- Jacobite shirts, dirks, anything costumey, is a little over the top anyway. It's really better to just dress like a normal person at the games, as they're not really costumed events anyway. Just a thought.

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Jacobite shirts are fantasy costume, not a part of actual reenacting. And as said earlier, it would be an anachronism to wear it with a sgian dubh anyway. Lots of people do it, though, without knowing any better.

[davidlpope]

thanks everyone for the input. I am not trying to be historically accurate. I just don't always want the tee-shirt/polo shirt look. Even I think a dirk with either of those shirts would not look good.

Why not wear a cotton broadcloth collared shirt instead? Loads classier than a t-shirt, polo shirt, or puffy pirate shirt with the kilt. If the weather is cool enough add a necktie and an tweed jacket. If the weather is really cool add a tweed waistcoat.

I discourage the wearing of dirks, except with full evening dress. Puffy shirts and cheaply-made edged weapons make Highland Games seem like a renfair...

[creagdhubh]

I discourage the wearing of dirks, except with full evening dress. Puffy shirts and cheaply-made edged weapons make Highland Games seem like a renfair...

Agreed.

[Nighthawk]

Puffy shirts and cheaply-made edged weapons make Highland Games seem like a renfair...

Yeah, that was my point exactly. Even when I go to faire, I don't wear those particular items! Ren faire- perfect for period costume. Highland games... not so much. Here's another way of looking at it, Sailortats- if you were to go to a local powwow thrown by a native American group, would you wear a costume, or dress like a normal person? The Highland games are a cultural event, just like a powwow. Or Christmas Eve Mass. Wear to the games what you would wear to any other modern cultural event!

[Dale Seago]

this is the link to the dirk I was speaking about.

http://www.museumreplicas.com/p-274-...tish-dirk.aspx

I know you're not trying to be accurate in terms of either history or contemporary Scottish culture and this is just for fun.

Still, for the kind of casual wear you envision I'd still prefer something like this for the shirt:

http://jas-townsend.com/product_info...roducts_id=492

As far as that dirk goes. . .Period-wise, circa 1500 they wouldn't have looked like that: They'd still be ballock/dudgeon daggers with probably about a 10-12" blade. On this one, the blade doesn't look bad. . .but the length and the fullered style of it are off by about 200 years: It looks like a "Jacobite era" dirk blade made from a cut-down broadsword or backsword, and those swords began being used by the Scots at around the same time (mid-to-late 1500s) that the use of the belted plaid (forerunner of the kilt) became popular among the Gael. And the handle. . .Good lord, why do modern mass-production designers always seem to want to make handles for dirks (which were primarily stabbing/thrusting weapons) that are more suited in length to a two-handed cutting sword?!?

Still, given that you just want to have fun, as long as you know that none of this is historically correct and you're not even trying to be. . .I'd say get what you want and enjoy yourself.

[Woodsheal]

When you say "dirk" to the folks on this board, the majority envision the silvery be-jewelled monstrosities that pass as dirks nowadays. These glittery gewgaws are indeed relegated to modern evening dress.

Period dirks (pre-1750) are a whole different animal - functional and utilitarian in appearance, with simple or tastefully carved grips, leather sheaths (occasionally with subdued brass mounts), and no hideous jewels. Such weapons would not fit in with modern dressy wear, but go well indeed with any attempt (authentic or otherwise) at period/historic dress.

Personally, I have no trouble with folks donning historic dress in a Highland Games setting. Myself and the groups I've belonged to have often been invited to do just that! But, being a bit of an "authenticity nazi", I like to see it done right - or even fairly close. The guys mixing Dark Age weaponry with medieval armor with 1745 clothing are the ones that drive me nuts.

But, as for wearing an early historic-type dirk with your period (or sort of period) outfit at the Games, I say go for it. There will always be hand-wringers made nervous by any sort of weaponry, but bugger them.

I do hate the "jacobite" shirts, though...!