Sgian-dubh, where'd you get one?

S

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Jul 14, 2013
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Have you got one? Do you like it? Where'd you get it? I've been getting into traditional fixed blades and I wanted to dip into my heritage a little. This helps both hahaha.
 
I agree with Kirby....I was in our pipe band at school; never saw a decent user sgian dubh at any of the fairs or games, or in any of the source catalogs. Not that I'm any expert on them; but what I was always told was that they suffered from the same curse as did swords....started becoming more for decoration than use, and you're talking about a relatively small market. Oddly enough, the Atlanta Cutlery plain jane wood handle model from back in the mid-80's was halfway decent, and not expensive....that;s what I carried.

A friend did a rehandle on a Cold Steel Culloden...sweet knife, but a bit long for the sgian dubh, and discontinued. I've got one, but it's not something I want in the top of my kilt hose (length). However, they make a properly sized blade today called the Braveheart...if you can do a basic rehandle and a traditional looking sheath, you can have a real EDC knife that looks the part for under $100, definitely. Here's a review I found on Bladeforums:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/624255-Cold-Steel-quot-Brave-Heart-quot

I'm actually thinking of getting one as a one-of-these-days project knife, just for old times sake.


Edited to add: wow, the ones in the above links are beautiful!
 
That's true. Most Sgian Dubh are "souvenir" grade. I have two really truly great working models, both from ... Himalayan Imports. The HI SG was made in honor of a deceased member and moderator of that forum, Rusty.

These are HI's high carbon steel, take a nice edge, and are tough blades. Of course, they are on the far side of the world to be classic sgian dubh. But by that token, they are probably more like the covert working and self defense knife as the originals.
 
Well, it would be really nice of you to post a picture of your Sgians. I'm sure they are great knives as HI usually does. I would be glad to order from them and add a HI Sgian to my Kumar Karda and my Farm Knife ! I totally agree with you that HI's Sgians must be more true to the original Sgian than the non-customs available today on UK, EU and US markets.
 
I would be interested in seeing one. I didn't see one listed on their website is it a current model? A very quick search didn't reveal any dealers. Do they only sell from their website?
 
I have been on the hunt for a quality Sgian Dubh for quite a while. I currently wear one of the Sheffield made models. It's just a 'better than nothing' type knife. Unidentified steel and the handle looks like a wooden spoon. It looks decent though. I thought I'd be able to find a decent one at one of the festivals and I even went to the big games in Atlanta a couple years back. No luck. Lots of knives to look at, but not a whole lot of quality. There were a couple of 'smiths' that had some damascus models they had made out of mystery damascus of ill repute for a couple hundred dollars, but that's about it. I just nabbed a Kizlyar on ebay last night for cheap. Not sure what to expect from a Russian Sgian Dubh... Have to wait and see I guess. Eventually I will have someone make me one, I just haven't got to it yet.
 
For getting a "feel" of the Sgian Dubh as well as a practical little EDC knife, I can only recommend the Cold Steel Secret Edge. Industrial as hell but well made, efficient, easy to carry as a necker and extremely affordable...
 
jstrange said:
I would be interested in seeing one. I didn't see one listed on their website is it a current model? A very quick search didn't reveal any dealers. Do they only sell from their website?
Click to expand...

Post in the HI forum that you are interested in one and Yangdu will know what's available for you or what she can have special-ordered.
 
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