The term Dirk is also apparently used as a generic term for daggers from the 171th and 18th century which I suppose is probably where most the confusion comes from.

[quote=@GodOfWar]
From what I got from [i]*cough*[/i] the dictionary [i]*cough*[/i], a dirk seems to be a [b]'short dagger of a kind formerly carried by Scottish highlanders'[/b].

But either way it's a dagger, and can really be used by both bandits and naval officers, and probably has been. :sun

[/quote]

The Highland Dirk is the only one I know of that has a short blade. The British Royal Navy, Soviet Union, and Japanese Imperial Navy all had Dirks with longer blades.