Wearing of a dirk

[KiltedKnight]

It was my understanding that the reason for wearing the dirk was in case you wanted to go armed with something other than and in addition to the sgian dubh. That makes more sense than wearing one simply for looks and with what jacket.
I'm also told that there is usually a loop in the kilt to steady the dirk and keep it from flopping all over as they definately will if only suspended by the beltloop but I haven't found one yet. :smile:
There are differences in types of dirks also, there are plain ones and regimental dirks and I would imagine many types in between.

[prattw]

Dirks are customary for civilian wear. This originated with the Victorian "everything, PLUS the kitchen sink" look. "Traditonal" US usage (in the _So you're going to wear the kilt_ sense) is for black tie equivalent.

I wear mine for full formal occasions when I'm not wearing a waistcoat. (It's hard to wear it with a waistcoat, since there's no belt to hang it on. It says something about a culture when a knife with an 11-inch blade is considered appropriate for wear to a formal dinner.) I also wear mine to Renfaire, with period shirt and philabeg. I don't wear it with a tweed jacket at the highland games, though there are people I consider sane who do. There are also people who wear a dirk with t-shirt and sneakers at the games, who I do NOT consider sane.

Will Pratt

[auld argonian]

Face it...there's a lot of people out there who are just looking for any excuse to strap on a REALLY BIG KNIFE...traditions or rules be damned.

I feel like I ought to not even wear a sghian dhub around the city...it's not me that I'm worried about but I don't want anybody else to get the idea that I'm looking for a fight.

...a claymore might come in handy on the subway sometimes, though.

Best

AA

[Casey]

I must admit, that being a knife collector, of sorts, I have a dirk. I have never worn it anywhere though.

[KiltedKnight]

Face it...there's a lot of people out there who are just looking for any excuse to strap on a REALLY BIG KNIFE...traditions or rules be damned.

I feel like I ought to not even wear a sghian dhub around the city...it's not me that I'm worried about but I don't want anybody else to get the idea that I'm looking for a fight.

...a claymore might come in handy on the subway sometimes, though.

Best

AA

Is there enough room to properly wield a claymore on a subway? I thought that was the original purpose of the dirk...? (That's a joke).

Chris.

[Piper]

Other than a reenactment or Rendezvous, the only time I wear a dirk is when I'm playing the pipes at a wedding. Not that I pipe at especially rough affairs, but sometimes the couple uses the piper's dirk to cut the cake.