OT: Ethnic knife, Sgian Dhu

Kismet

Kismet

Joined
Jan 30, 2002
Messages
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For your information:

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/dubh.html

Pretty well done explanation. I recently came into possession of a 20 year old tourist example, purchased in Scotland. Carbon steel blade, bone and wood handle, full tang, and about 5 inches of blade.

Nice enough for what I paid, but illegal to carry because of "dagger" status with both edges sharpened.





Be well and safe.
 
There ought to be a rule if the edges are sharpened for different material needs...

"But officer...this edge is for general use at 20 degrees while the other edge is obviously for opening triangular mailing tubes at 17 degrees"

.
 
I have several Sgain Dubh's that I wear when Piping and all are single edged.I've never seen a double edged example.tom.
 
Carbon steel and a full tang (let alone the handle) rates it above, in my not so humble opinion, 80% of the garbage out there today. If only all tourist models were this nice. ;)

If you're talking about "high carbon 420 surgical stainless steel," all bets are off, of course.

Good link, and thanks.
 
This is the knife. Rusted and pitted, handle loose when I got it, but cleaned up very nicely. Don't think the inlays were silver because they weren't tarnished, but the metal is soft. I sanded and rounded the hilt edges a bit. The handle is bone, not ivory; the black is wood of some sort. I recovered the sheath in a thin, black leather.

No notches on the top of the blade, just cutting edge. Tang goes to top of handle.

It wants to be carried secretly. :)
 
IIRC, Wilkinson provides these with unsharpened blades and plastic handles distinguished by the handles cast in different differnt form for each clan. Other Wilinson Sgian's are made of different handle material. Last I heard they cost about $70+.

Wilkinson may or may not make the Fairbairn any more. If it does, I believe it is presented in a case and NOT sharpened.

I've a 17" bladed Wilkinson P14 bayonet I'd love to have refurbished to make a Scottish dirk. And if I could find similarly marked broken bayonets with blades still long enough, Sgian Ochles and Sgian Dhubs.
 
Rusty?

One of the sites I visited mentioned that they are now making Sgian Dhus which are poured plastic for reenactors, no separation, no blade...in order to be in compliance with laws.

A friend sent me an email mentioning that one school in England had banned the game of "tag" because it encourage aggression. I don't have a link, so I'm hoping this is incorrect, rather than merely insane.



Be well and safe.
 
Hi Guys
That is a very unusual sgian, I have never seen a double edged one.

Kismet- there have always been sgian dhub without blades as you describe, they were for children to wear when in costume.
Much worse are the very fancy knives that have "blades" consisting of flat edgeless pieces of steel. Yuk!!!!!!.
Phil
 
Kismet,that doesn't look like a sgain dubh to my untrained eyes.It looks more like a Lapp knife or something from Norway or Finland,or maybe even the middle east.I'm not sure tho.Wish I could be of more help.tom. :confused:
 
Hi Kismet, just read the article, its pretty good. I have James Formans book 'The Scottish Dirk' in front of me as I type, there are no double edged sgian dubhs illustrated. Perhaps you should hazard a post in Bernard Levines forum for other opinions.
Regards
Phil
 
Thanks. It doesn't make much difference to me. The seller said he bought it in Scotland. It IS a daggar, but I extrapolated the Sgian Dhu part. It is a nice little blade.


Rusty? I went to the Wilkinson site. They have a "Shakespeare knife" listed, named after a someone other than the playwright. I'll try and post an image. Is this the one you referred to?


Thank you all.
 
The Shakespeare knife was designed by and made for a British hunter/explorer who worked in India in the mid to late 19th century. He wote several books and comes across as a bit of a character. His original knife was in the Royal Armouries collection and appreared to be a substantial tool.
Phil
 
Kismet,

That doesn't look like a Wilkinson knife. Perhaps it is a Shakespeare pattern knife made in India.

n2s
 
Hi Guys
N2S follow the Wilkinson link for the story on the Shakespeare knife, I have edited my original post, I have a feeling the price is prohibitive though.
Kismet, mate I don't know what those knives are, but thay are not sgian dubh!!! yukky
follow Yvsa's second link to see some over the top items also www.mackenziefrain.com in the UK.
Great thread guys
Phil
 
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