4372 SUPERB CASED SCOTTISH DIRK WITH MATCHING SKEAN DHU

SOLD
3,965.00USD
This item SOLD at 2024 Nov 03 @ 16:55UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,250.00 USD
Estimated at 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
This impressive and artistically significant cased set was made in Edinburgh between 1899 and 1901 by R & H.B. Kirkwood of Thistle Street. The dirk measures 17 1/4" in length with a 12" blade. The blade has a central medium fuller with a secondary small fuller above. The spine of the blade has 14 cut scallops on each side. The grip is of typical Scottish dirk style, mounted in silver on a bog oak grip. There are numerous silver studs mounted throughout the bog oak. The pommel is formed by a silver-bordered faux Cairngorm stone made of faceted crystal. The sheath has four solid silver mounts, all touch-marked from an Edinburgh silversmith. The date letters "S" and "T" indicate manufacture between 1899 and 1901. The top mount is also hallmarked "R. & H.B. KIRKWOOD 66 & 68 THISTLE ST. EDINBURGH". The two middle mounts form smaller integral sheaths to hold a knife and fork with similar bog oak grips and similar faux Cairngorm stones. The two middle mounts show a boar’s head and dragon motif with the mottos "NE OBLIVISCARIS" and "SANS PEUR", which are the mottos of Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The matching skean dhu measures 7 1/2" with a 3 3/4" blade. The blade is etched with foliate motifs and a cat passant on one side and more foliate motifs with a boar’s head on the other. The blade is etched near the hilt with a partially legible mark that reads, in part, "ST. JAMES’S STREET S.W." The hilt is silver-mounted bog oak with four silver pins and a crowned monogram on the face. The pommel features a silver-mounted crystal faux Cairngorm. The sheath is leather-covered wood with two matching silver mounts. Both pieces fit perfectly into their custom protective carrying case that is black leather over wood with a purple velvet interior. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a 1939 typed description of this Scottish dirk and skean dhu set. CONDITION: the dirk shows very little wear, except for the highest points on the silver mounts. All blades show substantial original factory luster. The skean dhu has a few tiny areas of cleaned pitting on one side. The grip and sheath show very light wear. The presentation case shows light overall wear with some separations to the leather covering at the corners. (02-22797-1/BF). $2,500-3,500.