Scottish Dirk Late 18th Century

Jim McDougall · 15th December 2018, 04:19 PM

More interesting notes 'historically' to the contexts possibly involving this dirk is some degree, as well as toward some observations concerning Culloden.
I have always thought that indeed there were considerable numbers of Scots in the ranks of the English forces (it must be noted that the term Scot was used broadly of course for Highlanders, Lowlanders and Islanders).

In "The Myth of the Jacobite Clans" by Murray Pittock (2009) on p,73, there are some interesting notes regarding the ranks of the Jacobites and those of the 'government.
The 'Black Watch' was mentioned (incidentally the term referred to dubh...Gaelic for black, dark, hidden, and that this unit was created after 1725 to patrol the Highland clans, often covertly, watching for subversive activity etc.).
It is noted that the Black Watch was so mistrusted that they were kept in the south of England, but a number seem to have joined the Jacobites anyway (p.73).

It is noted as well that "...the Jacobite cause consistently recruited more adherents in Scotland than the Whig governments.
Apparently among Lord Loudon's forces marching north, all the MacDonalds, MacLeods and MacKenzies deserted and joined the Highland army.
The author notes that "...desertions from the Jacobites to the government are hard to find. The evidence simply does not seem to be there to support the assertion that more Scots were in arms against the Jacobites than for them."(p.73).

Moving back to our dirk in discussion, it is interesting that Culloden took place near Inverness, the area of course that I have noted as that of the unit the inscription may refer to, as well as the founder, a MacKenzie. Perhaps nothing more than coincidental notes...........but it is the kind of thing that studying arms and history is all about.......possibilities.

It is still perplexing that this dirk has all the attributes of an earlier type, yet the inscribed markings are from a much later unit. In looking further into the style I found Charles Whitelaw's "Scottish Arms Makers" (1934 repr. 1977) there is in Appendix 3 his "Origin and Developmet of the Highland Dirk" (1908).
Figures 3 and 4 (p.312) are apparently regarded as the earliest types of dirk, with striking similarity to our example......and in #4 I found a remarkable instance resembling the fixture on our example, however instead of the four posts..."...the top of the pommel has four leaf shaped sinkings".

Such embellishents and designs are often found in Scottish weapons, and in many cases there are distinct symbolisms, however often their meanings have been lost. I recall trying to discover more on such symbolism and talking with Dr. Cyril Mazansky, who was writing his outstanding book "The British Basket Hilt Sword".He said he was focused on typology and was not particularly keen on symbolism.

It would be great to discover more on this curious fixture atop the pommel on this dirk, which seems to have been a very early appendage, and how thie dirk has seemingly become possibly involved so much later in a military setting.

Whitelaw (op.cit. p.313) also refers to the vigorous enforcement of the disarming acts after 1746, and that while weaponry was proscribed, the dirk was considered utilitarian in degree thus somewhat allowed. With this, many of the swords were cut down into dirks (and other tools). In the same plate discussed, fig. 6 has a blade noted as cut down in this manner and very much resembles the blade on our example.

Pukka Bundook · 16th December 2018, 02:28 PM

Jim,
Very interesting contributions from yourself. Just like we expect!
Whilst reading these, it was running through my mind how many times , and in different parts of the world, we see arms of the officer class often carried by several generations. An example would be the Japanese katana sometimes with a Very old blade, being carried in "working clothes" by officers in WW2. Indeed, expert "sniffers" were employed by well to do families after the war, to try to locate heirlooms lost along with the family member.
This dirk may well fit into this category, And fits entirely with an officer carrying an old family blade.

Jim,
If you want a link to the Grant Correspondence, I can send you one. It is quite an eye-opener regarding the 1695 (was it?) 1715 and '45 rebellions.

Best regards,
Richard.

Jim McDougall · 16th December 2018, 03:08 PM

Thank you Richard!!! and well observed on the heirloom weapons which transcended often many generations and often into many campaigns. It was that sort of pride and honor that men carried into battle, and charged their strength, courage and resolve.

In Scotland, such was profoundly the case, and while vast numbers of their beloved basket hilts were hidden away in thatch, many blades were cut down and placed in dirks. The dirk was typically overlooked in the proscriptions as it had viable purpose in utility use.

Good analogy on the Japanese swords after WWII, and there are many great examples of these heirloom Samurai blades in Showa period and military mounts. I recall speaking with one of the number of Japanese men who advertised and sought recovery of these blades taken at the end of WWII.
While these were regarded of course as souvenirs and war trophies, it was not realized that these blades were regarded quite literally as the virtual souls of the warriors who used them. I recall one instance where one Samurai blade was returned to the family from which it came and it was placed reverently in a small temple in that accord.

Pukka Bundook · 17th December 2018, 02:28 PM

A Very factual reply, Jim!
Yes, as officers supplied their own equipment, , old family accoutrements were very common.
If any of us were in this position, I think we would do Exactly the same, given the chance!
There is great comfort in a family piece, a tie to home, and at every viewing, a recall of the forbears, which could steady the nerves in times of uproar.
This would tie in very nicely with the common admonition; "Always remember who you are, and who you belong to".

Please pardon this if regarded as OT.

R.

Jim McDougall · 17th December 2018, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

A Very factual reply, Jim!
Yes, as officers supplied their own equipment, , old family accoutrements were very common.
If any of us were in this position, I think we would do Exactly the same, given the chance!
There is great comfort in a family piece, a tie to home, and at every viewing, a recall of the forbears, which could steady the nerves in times of uproar.
This would tie in very nicely with the common admonition; "Always remember who you are, and who you belong to".

Please pardon this if regarded as OT.

R.

Thank you again Richard! I agree, in times where we would be facing the horrors of battle such heirlooms would remind us well of the things we fight for. Not at all OT! Such things are inherent in the arms we study and carry the stories and history so important in realizing their dimension.
There are many in the collecting world who overlook this, but hopefully discussions which include these aspects will help others appreciate their weapons more.

15th December 2018, 04:19 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	More interesting notes 'historically' to the contexts possibly involving this dirk is some degree, as well as toward some observations concerning Culloden. I have always thought that indeed there were considerable numbers of Scots in the ranks of the English forces (it must be noted that the term Scot was used broadly of course for Highlanders, Lowlanders and Islanders). In "The Myth of the Jacobite Clans" by Murray Pittock (2009) on p,73, there are some interesting notes regarding the ranks of the Jacobites and those of the 'government. The 'Black Watch' was mentioned (incidentally the term referred to dubh...Gaelic for black, dark, hidden, and that this unit was created after 1725 to patrol the Highland clans, often covertly, watching for subversive activity etc.). It is noted that the Black Watch was so mistrusted that they were kept in the south of England, but a number seem to have joined the Jacobites anyway (p.73). It is noted as well that "...the Jacobite cause consistently recruited more adherents in Scotland than the Whig governments. Apparently among Lord Loudon's forces marching north, all the MacDonalds, MacLeods and MacKenzies deserted and joined the Highland army. The author notes that "...desertions from the Jacobites to the government are hard to find. The evidence simply does not seem to be there to support the assertion that more Scots were in arms against the Jacobites than for them."(p.73). Moving back to our dirk in discussion, it is interesting that Culloden took place near Inverness, the area of course that I have noted as that of the unit the inscription may refer to, as well as the founder, a MacKenzie. Perhaps nothing more than coincidental notes...........but it is the kind of thing that studying arms and history is all about.......possibilities. It is still perplexing that this dirk has all the attributes of an earlier type, yet the inscribed markings are from a much later unit. In looking further into the style I found Charles Whitelaw's "Scottish Arms Makers" (1934 repr. 1977) there is in Appendix 3 his "Origin and Developmet of the Highland Dirk" (1908). Figures 3 and 4 (p.312) are apparently regarded as the earliest types of dirk, with striking similarity to our example......and in #4 I found a remarkable instance resembling the fixture on our example, however instead of the four posts..."...the top of the pommel has four leaf shaped sinkings". Such embellishents and designs are often found in Scottish weapons, and in many cases there are distinct symbolisms, however often their meanings have been lost. I recall trying to discover more on such symbolism and talking with Dr. Cyril Mazansky, who was writing his outstanding book "The British Basket Hilt Sword".He said he was focused on typology and was not particularly keen on symbolism. It would be great to discover more on this curious fixture atop the pommel on this dirk, which seems to have been a very early appendage, and how thie dirk has seemingly become possibly involved so much later in a military setting. Whitelaw (op.cit. p.313) also refers to the vigorous enforcement of the disarming acts after 1746, and that while weaponry was proscribed, the dirk was considered utilitarian in degree thus somewhat allowed. With this, many of the swords were cut down into dirks (and other tools). In the same plate discussed, fig. 6 has a blade noted as cut down in this manner and very much resembles the blade on our example.

16th December 2018, 02:28 PM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Jim, Very interesting contributions from yourself. Just like we expect! Whilst reading these, it was running through my mind how many times , and in different parts of the world, we see arms of the officer class often carried by several generations. An example would be the Japanese katana sometimes with a Very old blade, being carried in "working clothes" by officers in WW2. Indeed, expert "sniffers" were employed by well to do families after the war, to try to locate heirlooms lost along with the family member. This dirk may well fit into this category, And fits entirely with an officer carrying an old family blade. Jim, If you want a link to the Grant Correspondence, I can send you one. It is quite an eye-opener regarding the 1695 (was it?) 1715 and '45 rebellions. Best regards, Richard.

16th December 2018, 03:08 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	Thank you Richard!!! and well observed on the heirloom weapons which transcended often many generations and often into many campaigns. It was that sort of pride and honor that men carried into battle, and charged their strength, courage and resolve. In Scotland, such was profoundly the case, and while vast numbers of their beloved basket hilts were hidden away in thatch, many blades were cut down and placed in dirks. The dirk was typically overlooked in the proscriptions as it had viable purpose in utility use. Good analogy on the Japanese swords after WWII, and there are many great examples of these heirloom Samurai blades in Showa period and military mounts. I recall speaking with one of the number of Japanese men who advertised and sought recovery of these blades taken at the end of WWII. While these were regarded of course as souvenirs and war trophies, it was not realized that these blades were regarded quite literally as the virtual souls of the warriors who used them. I recall one instance where one Samurai blade was returned to the family from which it came and it was placed reverently in a small temple in that accord.

17th December 2018, 02:28 PM	#4
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	A Very factual reply, Jim! Yes, as officers supplied their own equipment, , old family accoutrements were very common. If any of us were in this position, I think we would do Exactly the same, given the chance! There is great comfort in a family piece, a tie to home, and at every viewing, a recall of the forbears, which could steady the nerves in times of uproar. This would tie in very nicely with the common admonition; "Always remember who you are, and who you belong to". Please pardon this if regarded as OT. R.