This is a Scottish Highland Dirk, a traditional and ceremonial sidearm for the officers of the Scottish Highland Regiments. A dirk is a long thrusting dagger that was used as a personal weapon for officers engaged in hand to hand combat. It was developed as a military item for the Regiments during the Jacobite Uprising in the late 17th to early 18th century; becoming most popular in the mid-1700s. The design is still used today and hasn't changed for the last 200 years, although it is now more of a ceremonial piece rather than a weapon.
The original owner of this dirk was Duncan MacDonald who lived at Lot 3, 5th Concession Lochiel, and had worked with the Hudson's Bay Company for a period of time. It was donated to the museum by his great grand nephew, Donald MacDonald of Vankleek Hill, in 1963.
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| Detail shot of the dirk's handle |
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