Early Dirk,

[Orvis]

Mike Mcrae from Scotia Metal Works also makes some pretty neat stuff. I don't own one of his dirks personally but they look pretty well made on his site...
In the OP's post I thought I saw a sliver of a sheath. If so I wouldn't mind a picture of it as I'm trying to get ideas for a my DIY dirk.

I can second CamelCody's words about Mike McRae. Mike has set up his booth regularly at central Atlantic Scottish games, so I've become friends with him and have been able to examine his range of blades. Over time, I have acquired two of his period dirks for reenacting. Mike's 18th c. dirks are very neat and at reasonable prices ($400-up). The dimensions are right and his hilt architecture and carving are pretty good. Although his leather scabbards are plain, they are well-fitted, and he has dressed up a dirk scabbard with metal fittings for me, so he might work with you on the details. He also makes fine pattern-welded blades. I have one of his pattern-welded sgian dhus w/a silver Marine Corps emblem for my modern Highland day dress. I recommend Mike for reenactors/others wanting a nice period dirk at a reasonable price.

[Micric]

C-Cody,

You may well be right, not all old arms would be carried in conventional scabbards. Needs must and all that.

Orvis,

Thanks for that. Always good to know who does nice work!

To me, $400 sounds a high price, but I am likely just out of touch! :-)

For those who may be interested, the fittings on the sgian sheath, are made from copper from the roof of Neushwanstein817fRlqJ3PL__SL1500_.jpg Castle in Bavaria. (Likely murdered the spelling!!)
When the castle was re-roofed years ago, a good (Bavarian) friend now living in BC, acquired a fair amount of the old copper and kindly passed some of it on to me.
My pal got it through a nephew, who was a groundsman there. He had a great pile of it!
Unfortunately, he left it in a house he rented out, and the lady who rented the property sold it all for scrap!

Again unfortunately, the man who was contracted to re-roof the castle fell to his death whilst working on it.

[Mike M.]

Concur on Mike McRae's work. I own both a dirk and a sgian by him. His work isn't fancy, but the blades are good steel...and shipped razor sharp. And quite reasonably priced.

My only gripe is that the dirk sheath is edge-to-the-rear, and I understand that the latest scholarship says the old dirks were carried edge-forward.

[ASinclair]

Mike McRae made my sgian dubh. A dirk from him is on my wish list.

[MacRob]

LRobinson Dirk 5_800x600.jpgLRobinson Dirk 6_800x600.jpgLRobinson Dirk 4_800x600.jpg Here are some photos of my Vince Evans dirk. I may have posted them before just cannot remember. These were taken by Vince when he was making the dirk and he sent them to me via e-mail. That was three years ago and since carrying the dirk here and there it has picked up some scratches and dings but still looks great. He also does an antiqued version at the same cost. This dirk, which I wear on my right hip so as not to get tangled up with the sword, is hung edge - to - rear in the sheath. My personal belief, based on some research is that most Highlanders wore the dirk to the front, along side the sporran. For a right - handed man, drawing from the hip, the back of the blade would be forward.

I have seen some debate as to whether the Highlander wanted to cut upward or downward with the blade. Since the dirk seems to be primarily a stabbing weapon, but with a very sharp edge, either orientation of the blade would seem to work. Christopher Thompson, in his Highland Knife Fighting with the Dirk and Sgian, opts for the edge to be out when the dirk is in use. If the dirk were to be drawn with the left hand, while holding a sword in the right hand then the edge would be facing out automatically when it was drawn, if the blade is carried as it is in the sheath of my Evans dirk. Sorry if that is murky and ask for clarification if you like.