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Officer's dirk to the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot. Edged blade with no markings. Black bogwood hilt with an interlaced design decorated with gilt studs and surmounted by a gilt mount supporting a foiled citrine. Housed in black leather covered sheath with applied thistle ornamented gilt mounts. The top mount embossed with St. Andrew within a wreath including the numeral 42. Matching knife & fork ensuite. Blade: 26,5cm. Condition: Good. Gilt is worn to base metal.

Ref 13. 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot

  • 1850s

  • The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot was a Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army also known as the Black Watch.

    Originally titled Crawford's Highlanders or the Highland Regiment and numbered 43rd in the line, in 1748, on the disbanding of Oglethorpe's Regiment of Foot, they were renumbered 42nd and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot.

    The 42nd Regiment was one of the first three Highland Regiments to fight in North America.

    In 1881 the regiment was named The Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch), being officially redesignated The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) in 1931.

    In 2006 the Black Watch became part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

    The regiment changed its name over the years as follows:

    • 1748 to 1880 - 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot
    • 1881 to 1931 - The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch) was amalgamated with the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot.
    • 1931 to 2006 - The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
    • 2006 to now - The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS)
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