Developed independently from the naval dirk, the Highland Dirk was a popular sidearm during the Jacobite Risings, later growing to be part of the national dress of Scotland. Measuring 15 1/2 inches overall, the dirk is fitted with a 10 1/4 inch double fuller blade with a filework decorated spine the left side is etched with a series of Scottish Patriotic designs over a crown and a "71" set inside a horn, with the right side showing a stack of 13 battle honor ribbons starting with "HINDOOSTAN(sic)" and "CAPE of GOOD HOPE" and running down to "PENINSULA" and "WATERLOO", over a crown, "71" in a horn, and "HIGHLAND/LIGHT/INFANTRY". Established in 1777 as the 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot (MacLeod's Highlanders), redesignated the 71st in 1786, and amalgamated with the 74th in 1886 to become the 71st Highland Light Infantry, the regiment saw combat on multiple continents, including action in Africa, suffered heavy casualties in the Battle of Vitoria, laid siege to Sevestapol, scaled the ramparts of Fort Napoleon during the Battle of Almaraz, and aided in holding the Chateau d'Hougoumont during the Battle of Waterloo. The attack on the Chateau, originally intended to be a mere diversionary play by Napoleon to lure away Wellington's reserves, wound up a day long shootout involving 26,000 soldiers, with the 71st losing 16 officers and 171 men. The hilt is carved ebony adorned with gold fittings, with raised thistle patterns on both the collar and pommel, a carved thistle on the reverse of the grip, a carved Highlander's cap backed by a pair of crossed claymore broadswords on the obverse, a gilt brass tack decoration on the woven section of the grip, and a clear crystal set into the pommel. The black leather sheath is fitted with gilt throats and tip, with the dirk throat bearing a crown over "71" in the horn, and the lower throats and tip decorated with raised thistles. Slotting into the lower throats are a pair of utensils; first, a small knife, 6 3/4 inches overall with a 4 inch drop point blade marked "JOHN S(illeg.)" and a spring-loaded retention clip, second, a three-tined fork, 5 1/4 inches overall with 1 3/8 inch tines, both with hilts similar to the main dirk.

Very fine overall, with some light spotting on the blade and a few thin cracks on the wood. The crystal in the smaller knife has yellowed slightly, and the retention clip has been removed from the fork. The gilt components are very good, with mild wear on the high points and superb retail throughout. A top-shelf example of the Scottish martial dirk with accoutrements, adorned for one of Great Britain's famed Highlander Regiments