Handled a real Skean Du, today.

flyingmonkey

flyingmonkey

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Nov 6, 2001
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Here in NYC, Tartan day was celebrated with a parade up 6th Ave. A friend of mine, wearing traditional garb, was kind enough to allow me to handle his Skean Du. I compared it to my CS Mini-Culloden and the size and shape were almost identical, except for the fact that his was authentic and decorated. The handle was made of black walnut, it had a silver crown, and his family crest on it. The blade material was unknown to both of us, but it was impressive.

...just thought I'd mention it to y'all.
FM.
 
Sounds awesome. I remember back in my youth (lol) looking at my Black Belt magazine. CS always had adds for the Culloden in it. I loved that knife. I will probably get one someday (or a mini-culloden). I think having a traditional one would be even better though, since to me they would just be for show more than anything else.
 
flyingmonkey,Glad to hear You handled a real Skein Dubh.I was supposed to play the pipes in that parade Today as well but couldn't get off work.My Friend was there however and should be telling Me stories by Monday evening.tom.;)
 
Though the more accepted spelling of this traditional Scottish knife is sgian dhu, I have also seen it spelled skene dhu and skean dhu. These Scottish knives can be quite ornate and are worn tucked in the sock when one is wearing his kilt. If a Scotsman is to dress in full regalia then he must include his sgian dhu.
 
Actually sgian dubh is another traditional spelling that I forgot about in my first post. Sgian dubh and sgian dhu are both found a lot in older Scottish books. You most certainly are not off base at all.
 
Originally posted by KWM
If a Scotsman is to dress in full regalia then he must include his sgian dhu.
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There is something to respect about the old days when a man was EXPECTED to wear knives and go about his business armed.
 
The way I understand it, The Scottish Dirk was an integral part of the traditional Scottish dress code. But when the dirks were outlawed they started carrying the Sgian Dhbu as a representive of the dirk without breaking the law.

Steve
 
My parents brought a Sgian Dubh back from Scotland about a year ago. The one that I have is made by Wilkinson Sword, and it is decorated to a degree, but the one you mentioned sounds like a treasure.
 
I have seen Sgian Dubh more than any other spelling.

The Sgian Dubh was a hold-out wepaon usually worn in the armpit. It was placed in the hose at gatherings in order to show that all weapons were visible.

Not sure how long traditional ones were.

I have a Culloden and an unsharpened sgian dubh from Museum Replicas. Would like to get a nice quality one and a matching dirk.

Clay
 
The Sgian Dubh that I checked out was remarkably close to the CS model that I mentioned in the original post. It was 7" overall with a 3.5" blade. And, yes, RattlerXX it was a treasure:D, but I don't think I could get one with my family crest as I'm not Scottish...oh well.

Regards,
FM.
 
I believe these were also commonly carried slung beneath an arm, concealed. They frequently had relatively short tangs that were burned into the carved wooden handle. The translation of the name, if I understand correctly, is 'black knife' from the color of the (usually) wooden handle.
 
Originally posted by flyingmonkey
but I don't think I could get one with my family crest as I'm not Scottish...
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Not to go too far off topic, but you brough tup an interesting point. I know my clan is Fraser Of Lovat but am ignorent to my family crest. Does anyone know where I may find such a thing?
 
Clint, I will try to look tonight for my book of clans. I know I am from the McGregor Clan, and I have several books with information, and even a map if it will help.

The Sgian Dubh was supposedly the "weapon of last resort".
 
Originally posted by CD Fleischer
...It was placed in the hose at gatherings in order to show that all weapons were visible.

...Clay
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That's also what a Scottsman told me in an email as well, but stated that when you went to a friends home you had your knife worn in the open, always liked the looks of them!

Also in one novel I read, the main guy had one and the stone set in the pommel made it perfect for throwing...;)
G2
 
Here's the some skinny on Sgians per the book Scottish Swords and Dirks (out of print and expensive if you can find it)
sgiandubh.jpg


Here's a dirk I did a while ago. It's an early 17th century style with an antler handle. Like many originals the blade is a cut down swordblade. I made this rig with the help of no machinery other than a 1/4" drill - it was done with a hacksaw, files, and sandpaper, including the grip carving.
The grip is made of two pieces of elk antler: the haunches are one piece laid crosswise and then the main grip was fitted to it.Blade length 14", overall length 19". The blade is not highly polished because I was going for the look of a common Highlander, without a lot of metal working skills, scrounging a broken blade and turning it in to a dirk. The sheath is the traditional leather covered wood.
dirk_xonpouch.jpg

Grip Closeup
dirk_grip.jpg


dirk_gripxonshield.jpg

I also did the antler grip and blued steel crossguard and pommel on the sword. This style sword hilt was still in use in Scotland during the early 17th century. The basket hilt swords were just becoming popular at this time.

Chuck

Leather work is my passion and business (the targe and pouch are also my work), but I really like doing grips and stuff like this as well.
 
Great work Chuck!

In about six months I hope to be out of a financial hole. Would like to talk about a new sporran/belt and matched set of knives. I have tigers eye stones from when I visited my clan chief,a lifetime ago, in Africa for cap stones.

Clan Chattan "Touch not the cat, but the glove"

Cheers,

ts
 
but it refers not to the wood, which was black bog oak, but a dark hiding place, the armpit. The knife was carried in the armpit as a weapon for self-defense, stabbing only - many have no cutting blade.
Contrary to other comments this knife was always concealed even in the presence of friends.
In the Highlands it was a custom to offer shelter to any stranger who called regardless of clan or kin, there was deep mistrust amongst rival clans and being murdered in one's bed was not unknown.
On entering a home the visitor would always surrender his weapons except the skean dhu which he concealed.
Many early knives are elaborately decorated with silver fittings and 'Cairngorm stones' (quartz) which had a Trading value as currency and could be broken off, the Highlanders having a deep mistrust of minted money.
 
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