The dirk is a weapon of great antiquity which was used in the Highlands from about the 15th century. As an item of regimental dress, however, although it has been carried by officers since the early days of the 79th, it has never been anything but ornamental. The dirk was carried by pipers, drummers and bandsmen from the 1840s, supplied at the expense of the officers and regimental funds. But since 1881 Ordnance dirks have been available. However, the regimental pattern has generally been preferred to the rather plain, heavy pattern of the issue dirk.
While officer’s dirks are heavily decorated with gilt, other ranks’ versions have white metal fittings. The other main difference is the lack of a knife and fork in the OR dirks. The dirk illustrated here is a regimental type as can be seen by the 79 at the top of the scabbard. The blade is plain apart from some faceting on the back edge. The pommel is also white metal; a 79 inside the star of the Order of the Thistle.
