Scottish Dirk Late 18th Century

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.

16th December 2018, 03:08 PM	#30
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,738	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.