Inquiry --- Traditional Sgain Dubh

L

leghog

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Aug 10, 2013
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Anyone have any info on quality traditional (single edge) Sgain Dubh? Not looking for custom or to pay custom prices but would like some pointers to get me started in the right direction.
 
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Google for Scottish Highland Games in your area. There are almost always vendors that sell Sgian Dubhs. Search for Geoffery.
 
pmew immediately springs to mind as one who might have some leads, or whose own recent thread might provide some helpful information:

pmew said:
I'm getting married next January, wearing my kilt of course, anyone got any ideas about decent Sgian Dubh's? Mine is naff. Custom or otherwise, all suggestions are welcome, I'm only intending to get married once.

pmew
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One certainly can't argue with the outcome!

pmew said:
Close up of spine
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and blade etch
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Hopefully he'll see this thread, and chime in. :)

~ P.
 
I picked up this little one on the big, evil auction site for about 30 bucks. J. Nowill & Sons, Sheffield. Not sure yet how hard the steel is, but it seems to hang onto its edge pretty well (and it actually came decently sharp from the factory - I haven't touched it to a stone yet).
The blade is quite thin. Compared to the Charlow in my pocket, it's thicker than the pen blade but thinner than the main clip. It's not going to be a serious woodcraft blade, but will do great for making sandwiches and... well... cutting stuff. :D
The handle is rosewood, shaped a little funny (I suppose it's intended to sit comfortably against one's leg), but it helps me index the knife without looking at it.
For the price, I'm not going to complain at all. I saw some others from the same maker (and some of their contemporaries) in a similar price range, and I may get another soon with a stag or buffalo horn handle.
The sheath is simple, just two pieces of leather stitched together, but it looks alright and it does the job.

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sgian4.jpg
 
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Most of the remaining Sheffield (factory) cutlers still produce Sgian Dubhs and (sometimes) Dirks. PMEW was very pleased with his custom job, and I'm not surprised :)
 
Jack Black said:
Most of the remaining Sheffield (factory) cutlers still produce Sgian Dubhs and (sometimes) Dirks. PMEW was very pleased with his custom job, and I'm not surprised :)
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With puukkoman's assistance, last night I found the one puukkoman posted above. Seems very reasonably priced but had no description of steel used, not even whether the blade is carbon or stainless. It intrigues me.

Can you point me in a direction to Sgian Dubhs not at custom prices? With the surnames of my forebears, I ought have one. Thanks much.
 
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I would love to get a quality sgain dubh. I used to have one when I was twelve years old, but I broke the handle by throwing it at my wall like a throwing knife. The ones posted here look great! Thanks for sharing :thumbup:
 
leghog said:
Can you point me in a direction to Sgian Dubhs not at custom prices? With the surnames of my forebears, I ought have one. Thanks much.
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I'll have to leave you a VM.

Jack
 
leghog said:
With puukkoman's assistance, last night I found the one puukkoman posted above. Seems very reasonably priced but had no description of steel used, not even whether the blade is carbon or stainless. It intrigues me.

Can you point me in a direction to Sgian Dubhs not at custom prices? With the surnames of my forebears, I ought have one. Thanks much.
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Mine's stainless, but the seller I left on your VM page has a few in carbon.
There's a place that sells blades, kits, etc. in various types of steel (12C27 Sandvik, damasteel, and some softer mystery stainless & pattern welded). His complete sgian dubhs are pretty pricey, but a kit with a blade of decent steel is not that expensive. Thinking about trying one out after the holidays. I'll drop a link in another VM...
 
Hi Leghog, I'm currently involved in a similar search. I love this pattern for its sturdiness and simplicity but that's exactly what I can't get. I want no carving, fancies or luxury and as of now, the best I've found are customs in the 160 $ dollar range (cough, cough...) without shipping (AAArk...). No worries, they are beautiful a plenty and feature real steel. It's real knives not some fancy dress accessory. Drop me a mail, I will be glad to forward the links I had positive return on. Be prepared... there's even a French bladesmith... (I hear you coughing...)
 
Thanks for the nod P~

I'm sorry I didn't reply to this earlier, I saw the thread at its genesis and then completely forgot about it with all the Christmas hubbub. Apologies.

I had a good search myself before I got what I wanted and the answer is... You won't find one worth having unless you pay for it. [of course you might strike lucky on the auction site or at a car boot sale or something but I would be surprised] There are quite a few sites that might be worth a look, I'll PM you Leghog, but I don't think you will be satisfied with what you see.

Generally speaking Sgians Dubh are for decoration these days and don't get used. The Sgian Dubh is a fighting knife. So it doesn't get much use in today's society. Gillies and professional stalkers all use more suitable knives. One of the duties of my job, requires me to do firearms and shotgun applications, renewals and refusals and I go to estates and gun owners homes all over the Outer Hebrides for inspections. They always seem to carry Buck fixed blades, with a few Falkniven and Bark Rivers (although most working Scott's would consider the later two; fancy, posh, expensive and unnecessary).

Anyway back to it... mostly you will find many multitudes of handle materials and designs attached to the same mass produced stainless blades with a pathetic tang, basic file-worked spines and a pointless fuller/blood groove. You are paying for the handle.

In the end I realised that handmade and customised was the only way to go and I got exactly what I asked of Will Ferraby, a custom smith and knife maker from Sheffield.

If you want a user, pay for custom or buy a different knife. If you are not going to use it, I'd just buy a touristy one from the many Sgian Dubh shops out there.

Hope this helps,
Paul
 
Can't PM you Leghog, if you are still looking for info, email me; pmew.uk at gmail.com
 
Thanks, pmew, but I only own knives I'll use, but I'm unwilling to go the custom route. I'll drop my search.
 
Likewise, I'm pleased with what I ended up with, but it wasn't cheap!
:)
 
I tried Puukkoman's Nowill Sgian in antler handle version. Fine little knife on its own that requires reprofiling of the cutting edge (what cutting edge ?) like other Nowill knives I had (Sailor Knife, MOA heavy duty knife). The antler handle is nice and surprisingly massive. The knife feels very solid but the ergonomics feel left-handed to me. I would have appreciated the curve to be downwards instead of outwards to the right (or no curve at all)... (must be due to the "wear in the sock" tradition). Sheffield Knives says it's inherent to the "antler handle" : it's natural so you have no warranty as to what you get (fat, slim, straight, crooked,...) Sigh !!! The cheapo "silver" adorned sheath could be happily replaced with the flat leather sheath that comes with the woodhandled version.
 
Sounds absolutely dreadful, and very shoddy service :(

herisson said:
must be due to the "wear in the sock" tradition
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I believe that the sgian dubh was originally carried in the armpit.
 
I did say it's a nice knife, nothing dreadful about it. At this price point (and higher) i experienced way more crappier products and service. "Arm pit dagger" (Sgian Achlais ?) : yes it was, and it was a spear, drop or clip point. The "wear in the sock" and "pointy dagger style" seems to be a Victorian era fad.
 
Herisson, funny you mention that... mine feels left-handed as well; when holding the asymmetrical handle comfortably in my right hand, the cutting edge faces upward.
 
puukkoman said:
I picked up this little one on the big, evil auction site for about 30 bucks. J. Nowill & Sons, Sheffield.
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I got the same one but from Richards 45 years ago in rosewood

Google Sheffield knives and you will find these knives
 
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