A Fine Victorian Highland Scottish Dirk for an Officer of the Highland Light Infantry

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Price: £3,875

Ref: 42111603

Item Description

An impressive Scottish Military Dirk made for an officer in the Highland Light Infantry in the late 19^th century. The dirk was made and retailed by Leckie Graham & Co of Union Street in Glasgow. The blade retains much of its original polish which highlights the etched regimental badges, VR cipher and Scottish symbols. It is housed in its wooden leather covered scabbard with its bi-knife and fork. The dirk is in fine condition with its bronze Ormolu mounts retaining most of their original gilt cover. The grips are mounted with finely cut dark red multifaceted Citrine pommel stones. The dirk retains is steel black painted storage box and its brocade belt.

The grips of the dirk, bi-knife and fork are fashioned from blackened hardwood carved with a pattern of basketweave with bronze studs mounted at the intersections of the weave. The raised ornate pommels are canted forwards each mounted with a finely cut Citrine inside decorative ferrules featuring bands of thistles and foliage around the base. The Citrines are of a uniform deep red colour. The dirk grip base mount is decorated in the same manner. The cone shaped grip bases of the bi-knife and fork are plain and mounted with sprung clips on either side to secure the grips to the scabbard pocket tops.

The leaf shaped blade is 11 inches (28 cm) long and has a scalloped back edge under which a deep fuller extends towards the tip and terminates just after the scallop line ends, after which the blade becomes double edged to the tip. A wider fuller extends from the hilt along the middle of the blade to nearer the tip.

The blade is profusely etched and engraved in the typical high quality manner of the late Victorian era and retains much of its original polished finish. On the side with the cutting edge facing left the name of the maker / outfitter “LECKIE GRAHAM & CO UNION ST GLASGOW” is featured in the ricasso at the base of the blade. Leckie Graham was an important outfitter in Glasgow established in 1849 and in the late 19^th century was based at Union Street. The company supplied much of the dress accoutrements for the Highland Light Infantry not least because Glasgow and its surrounds were the core recruiting area for the regiment.

Above the outfitter name is a bold foliate thistle. On top of this is the VR cipher with a resplendent crown on top with a further thistle above. The reverse side from the tip down features a resplendent crown with the bugle badge with “HLI” in the centre.  Below this the badge of the regiment is featured centred with a thistle. Below this an elephant reflects the service of the regiment in India. Beneath the elephant a further bold thistle is featured.

The dirk is housed in a wooden scabbard covered with black leather on top of which the scabbard mounts are applied. The mouthpiece to the front contains the regimental badge in silver on the Ormolu background. To the rear the belt carrying strap is still attached to the bar shaped suspension mount. The mounts for the bi-knife and fork pocket tops and the chape feature bold designs of intertwined thistles at the front.

The dirk retains its gold silken brocade belt with red leather backing. The belt plate is  formed in the same but expanded manner as the mouthpiece front – the regimental badge applied in silver on the Ormolu front centred with an Ormolu crown above, “HLI” in the middle with an elephant at the base with the “ASSAYE” riband on its back. The double-hinged black painted steel storage box has a carrying handle on top and a locket which does not function although the lid opens and closes effectively. The box retains its original kid leather padded liner fixed into the lid and into the base of the compartment.

The Highland Light Infantry was one of the most famous regiments of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of Childers Reforms to British infantry regiments by the renaming of the 71^st (Highland) Light Infantry as the 1^st Battalion and the 74^th (Highland) Regiment of Foot as the 2^nd Battalion.

This dirk dates to the period between 1881 and the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. During this 20 year period the 1^st Battalion was posted to South Africa in 1899 when the Second Boer War broke out. The 2^nd Battalion saw action at the Battle of Tel El Kebir in 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War and after a brief return the England the Battalion was posted to India until 1900.

Condition:

The condition of the dirk is very fine with minor wear as can in be seen in the photos. The pommel stones are in excellent original condition with no cracks, chips or interference to the mount housings. The top of the sprung retention clip for the fork has broken off but it is remains properly functional.