For sale is this Victorian Scottish Officer’s Dirk to the Argyll & Sutherland Regiment dated S for 1899 to 1900. This rare dirk is for the more advanced collector of Scottish Militaria. This regiment had its origins in 1881 as Queen Louise’s Sutherland and Argyll’s Highlanders combining The Argyll’s and Sutherlands regimes of foot. This dirk was purchased at Christies in London in 2005.
I have been collecting Scottish and English Military items for more than 35 years and I am parting with what I have left in my collection. I do have several Military Plaid Broaches and Sporrans and a few other Scottish items to sell.
This Dirk is stamped JHT and was made in Edinburgh in 1899-1900 by John Hart. All the mountings are sterling silver.
The Cairngorm stones are all in very good condition and are backed with foil as was customary to enhance the color of the quartz. The carved wood pommel and for the dirk and utensils is carved of dogwood which is also customary. Silver nails pepper the pommel and fork/knife handles. You will note in the pictures that several are missing from the reverse of side of the pommel.
The overall length of the dirk in its sheath is about 20″ in length. The length of the blade itself is about 11 1/2″. The blade is in very good condition showing some light marks towards the tip. The back of the leather covered sheath flexes a small bit as would be expected for an item of 125 years of age.
The large Cairngorm in the pommel hilt is multi faceted and shows no damage. It is surrounded by a sterling silver band with an interlocking pattern. The bolster also has a wide patterned sterling band as well. The mount at the top of the sheath shows two griffons over which are mounted two L’s for Queen Louise and the coronet crown atop it.
The second mounting shows in high relief two opposed dragons, aboard head and the motto NE OBLIVISCARIS (DO NOT FORGET). The third mount holding the fork shows the dragons, cat and the motto SANS PEUR (WITHOUT FEAR). The mount on the tip of the sheath depicts two dragons.The Fork and knives are mounted with silver and have dogwood handles.
The Dirk also comes with a leather frog which you rarely see. This allows the dirk to be worn on your belt. Also, a beautiful leather case that held one of my silver and ivory chanters for many years will be included. The case is a perfect fit for this rare military dirk. Please ask me to send you photos as I have run out of space to post.
This item will be well packed and insured and shipped via Fedex. A signature will be required upon delivery.
