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Aberlour Gardens Aberlour Moray
AB38 9LD Scotland |
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1340-821136 +44(0)1340 871854
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| Sgian Dubh & Highland Dirk |
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Sgian Dubh is the Gaelic for black (Dubh) dagger (Sgian) -"black" because the handle was invariably carved from black bog oak and, more subtly, because the word "black" meant secret or covert as in "black-market".
This is most appropriate for this weapon of last resort, which was usually concealed, only to be exhibited in the presence of a host out of courtesy, when it was placed in the wearer's hose (sock) in an obvious position. |
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| The Highland Dirk, certainly since the fifteenth century, has been distinctive from European daggers in having but a single edge, the heavy blade perfectly balanced for use also as a short sword.
The oldest Dirk's (Dirk/A) have carved knot-work pommels, and plain scabbards and simple ornamentation, where as eighteenth century variants have embellished scabbards to accommodate a knife and fork in the pattern of the Highland Regimental Officers (Dirk/KF); also available in Gold finish . |
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