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- Jul 30, 2004
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Skean Dhu shootout- H.I., C.S. & Sarge-made
A few months ago, with the Ram Raffle, I was *very* fortunate to have snagged a Skean Dhu (SD) made by forumite Sarge. Liked it a lot, carried every day until security concerns at my job made that a risk-of-loss. Not going to happen to that one.
Ordered a Cold Steel (CS) Brave Heart on a whim, while ordering their little neck knife. The Brave Hearts must be in demand; was backordered for almost 2 months. Finally it came.
And about that same time I shot for a Himalayan Imports (HI) SD, because you never know, with the deals of the day, if you'll *ever* get one or not. Some models used to take months of sharking to get. (Anybody seen an HI Seax lately?)
So I find myself with three really nice SD's and thought I'd post a pic or two along with some comments.
First, the CS SD. Soul-less mass production knife, yes. But Lynn Thompson, the designer, knows a thing or two about knives. It's wide, and has nice control. Flat and easy to carry, with a removable belt clip and a necker chain. Very grippy, too. Hole in handle also. Very pointy; needle sharp. So much so I feel I may break the point someday. Overall, though, I really like it. Pic below.
Second, the HI SD. We waited a long time for these Rusty-tribute beauties. Sarge carved the model, I think, that the kamis made them from. Well, it's nice, if you don't have one yet. Most comfy handle of the three; flat on one side, fits the hand strangely well. Got that Scottish shamrock shape going on, which is artsy, but it is practical too. Wide and rounded grip gives a lot of control as well. This one is a lovely wood handle and was I think destined for Nasty but through a twist of forum fate, I wound up with it with Nasty's blessing. Sturdier than the CS SD, it's not breaking any time soon. Handle is largest of the three; which is both good and bad. Great feel, hard to conceal- depending. Slips right into a cell phone pocket. err, it COULD go in a cell phone pocket. Pic below.
Third up, Sarge's own generous contribution to one medical student, Ram. Sarge is low key about it but it's known he can make great knives out of old files. The Sarge SD has a nice long blade with a low profile handle of antler. The SD is a general use blade really; and a last-ditch weapon I suppose. This one is sturdy, pretty and easiest of the three to carry. Key to this is the handle. It is minimal, really. The antler is naturally grippy enough to give good control, maybe less than the other two. The longish blade is pointy but not delicate. With its sheath the rig is so flat it can go anywhere easily. Pic below.
A Skean Dhu is a great utility blade; moreso if you're of Celtic derivation, which I am. None of these are going to go in my boot, wool stocking or bagpipe kit: don't have any of that. But one of these three is likely to go with me a lot of other places.
Hope you enjoyed a look at these knives.
Mike
Don't anyone use the expression "jimping for joy." Kevin.
A few months ago, with the Ram Raffle, I was *very* fortunate to have snagged a Skean Dhu (SD) made by forumite Sarge. Liked it a lot, carried every day until security concerns at my job made that a risk-of-loss. Not going to happen to that one.
Ordered a Cold Steel (CS) Brave Heart on a whim, while ordering their little neck knife. The Brave Hearts must be in demand; was backordered for almost 2 months. Finally it came.
And about that same time I shot for a Himalayan Imports (HI) SD, because you never know, with the deals of the day, if you'll *ever* get one or not. Some models used to take months of sharking to get. (Anybody seen an HI Seax lately?)
So I find myself with three really nice SD's and thought I'd post a pic or two along with some comments.
First, the CS SD. Soul-less mass production knife, yes. But Lynn Thompson, the designer, knows a thing or two about knives. It's wide, and has nice control. Flat and easy to carry, with a removable belt clip and a necker chain. Very grippy, too. Hole in handle also. Very pointy; needle sharp. So much so I feel I may break the point someday. Overall, though, I really like it. Pic below.
Second, the HI SD. We waited a long time for these Rusty-tribute beauties. Sarge carved the model, I think, that the kamis made them from. Well, it's nice, if you don't have one yet. Most comfy handle of the three; flat on one side, fits the hand strangely well. Got that Scottish shamrock shape going on, which is artsy, but it is practical too. Wide and rounded grip gives a lot of control as well. This one is a lovely wood handle and was I think destined for Nasty but through a twist of forum fate, I wound up with it with Nasty's blessing. Sturdier than the CS SD, it's not breaking any time soon. Handle is largest of the three; which is both good and bad. Great feel, hard to conceal- depending. Slips right into a cell phone pocket. err, it COULD go in a cell phone pocket. Pic below.
Third up, Sarge's own generous contribution to one medical student, Ram. Sarge is low key about it but it's known he can make great knives out of old files. The Sarge SD has a nice long blade with a low profile handle of antler. The SD is a general use blade really; and a last-ditch weapon I suppose. This one is sturdy, pretty and easiest of the three to carry. Key to this is the handle. It is minimal, really. The antler is naturally grippy enough to give good control, maybe less than the other two. The longish blade is pointy but not delicate. With its sheath the rig is so flat it can go anywhere easily. Pic below.
A Skean Dhu is a great utility blade; moreso if you're of Celtic derivation, which I am. None of these are going to go in my boot, wool stocking or bagpipe kit: don't have any of that. But one of these three is likely to go with me a lot of other places.
Hope you enjoyed a look at these knives.
Mike
Don't anyone use the expression "jimping for joy." Kevin.
I haven't handled one of the CS Bravehearts yet, but I used to have one of their "Culloden" sgian dubhs with plain edge in Carbon V steel. Liked it pretty good. Cut the rubber handle off, put an antler handle on it, and liked it even better. 
