La Tene Dirk. A 9½ inch double-edged blade of O1 high-carbon tool-steel, with a faceted grind, finished with a mirror polish and heat-blued. 4 ½ inch handle turned from 6000 year old bog oak, handcarved with Pictish spirals and Celtic knots. Sterling silver and copper mounts, including sculpted guard and disc pommel, sculpted and engraved multi-layer blade collar. Handcarved and stained open knotwork sheath of black walnut, lined with velvert, allowing the blade to show through the interstices, with a sterling silver collar and stitched leather throat and belt loop.

The design of this dirk reflects aspects of the evolution of the Highland dirk – the silhouette is that of an ancient La Tene period blade, the handle resembles a medieval ballock dagger in form, but with the full haunches of an early dirk, and while the carving of the haunches is classic dirk, the Pictish spirals of the waisted handle betray its early Celtic roots. COMMISSION - £1500

Ballock Dirk. Closely based on the earliest surviving example of the Highland dirk, dated 1680, which is on display in the National Museum of Scotland. Bob has done extensive research into early dirks. He not only faithfully reproduces their various forms through the years, but also their materials, and the tools which were used to make them. His series of reproductions is much less ornate than those commonly available elsewhere, but emphasises instead the simple elegance of their ancient forms, which developed through centuries of use by Highland clan warriors.

Deep knotwork carving in this style is slow, painstaking work - an entire week to carve the handle. The flared pommel is reinforced by a steel disc, heat blued to show off the engraved sterling silver rose. This rose motif is the Scots Rose or Burnett Rose, adopted by the Jacobites as their emblem: the white cockade. Order Now - £1900

Parallel Working Dirk
I made this private commission to the owner's particular specifications and unusual 'straightline' design with vertically mounted by-knife and fork. The Works in Progresspage for this dirk now includes the recently completed matching sgian dubh with by-knife.

The handle, by-knife and fork handles and sheath are all hand-carved from a single piece of London plane in separate but interlocking basketweave patterns, then stained and lacquered. The handle has a silver Burnett rose on a blued steel background, and thin copper fittings. The reverse is carved with a single knot to provide extra grip.

This Dirk has a 10 inch single-edged blade of O1 high carbon tool-steel, clay tempered for a hard edge and springy spine, with fullers and a hand rubbed finish which has been etched, patinated, and honed to a razor edge. SOLD - £1250

Viking Knife. A 4 ½ inch single-edged blade of laminated steel, with a high carbon core and soft iron outer layers, flame hardened and tempered. The blade has been etched and hand polished, with forge finished flats. The 4 ¾ inch handle has been made in three parts, with a core of stained birch wood and scales of carved antler. It has been fully handcarved with Viking ring knots, based on the prow carvings of the Osenberg ship, and Celtic knotwork motifs, and waxed to bring out the luster of the materials (see Works in Progress). The blade is mounted with a copper guard plate and rivets, and has an “A” rune inlayed in copper in the butt. Traditional Viking style sheath, made of heavy cow hide covered in stained goatskin. A cowhide insert has been tooled with a beast motif (from a ninth century horse brass found on Orkney). The sheath is reinforced with rivets and engraved copper sheet, and has hand forged and brazed copper D-rings to attach the belt loops. SOLD - £600.