Day Sgian

**xman** · 3rd December 10, 03:50 PM

My first sgian dubh, a stag handled one and matching kilt pin with ebony top arrived from The Scotland Kilt Company. What do ye think?

I think I'll introduce the blade to my honing stones tonight.

X

**CMcG** · 3rd December 10, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by xman

My first sgian dubh, a stag handled one and matching kilt pin with ebony top arrived from The Scotland Kilt Company. What do ye think?

I think I'll introduce the blade to my honing stones tonight.

X

I think I'd like to see a bit more of it, if possible?

And what is the edge like i.e. would a bit of honing be enough to get it sharp or is it fully dulled?

**BoldHighlander** · 3rd December 10, 04:00 PM

Ooooo...nice!

Originally Posted by CMcG

I think I'd like to see a bit more of it, if possible?

Please!

**xman** · 3rd December 10, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

I think I'd like to see a bit more of it, if possible?

Of course. My bad.

Originally Posted by CMcG

And what is the edge like i.e. would a bit of honing be enough to get it sharp or is it fully dulled?

I would describe it as perfectly dull, but nothing that fifteen minutes on my Norton water stones won't fix. When one has the right tools ...

[edit] I just spent half an hour setting the bevel which was nonexistent, but it's almost there. Going back to sewing pleats just now. I'll finish the honing this weekend sometime.

**BoldHighlander** · 4th December 10, 12:51 AM

Nice!

Interesting shape to the handle.

**CMcG** · 4th December 10, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by xman

<snip>
I would describe it as perfectly dull, but nothing that fifteen minutes on my Norton water stones won't fix. When one has the right tools ...

[edit] I just spent half an hour setting the bevel which was nonexistent, but it's almost there. Going back to sewing pleats just now. I'll finish the honing this weekend sometime.

Keep us posted with how the sharpening goes...

I've also put an edge on a blunt sgian and it definitely takes some time to get the bevel going. One could view it as a good sign that the steel has been hardened but it is rather a PITA.

Unfortunately, sharpening it also marred the mirror finish of the blade and I was forced to use some high grit sandpaper to put on a brushed finish. Next time I'm near a buffer, I hope to shine it back up!

**xman** · 5th December 10, 01:12 PM

My wife broke out the vacuum this morning so I abandoned my sewing in the living room for a while. Another half hour has produced a very good edge. I'm sure that a steadier hand could do it in less time. It is the first time I have brought a piece of steel up to sharp from nothing. It cut a lemon easily. the real test would be how it deals with a tomato. I too put some scratches on the blade as it slipped off the stone, but I have some polishing compounds here that should do the trick.

**KWD** · 5th December 10, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

Keep us posted with how the sharpening goes...

I've also put an edge on a blunt sgian and it definitely takes some time to get the bevel going. One could view it as a good sign that the steel has been hardened but it is rather a PITA.

Unfortunately, sharpening it also marred the mirror finish of the blade and I was forced to use some high grit sandpaper to put on a brushed finish. Next time I'm near a buffer, I hope to shine it back up!

Thats is a beautiful Sgian, Where did you aquire it?

**CMcG** · 5th December 10, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by KWD

Thats is a beautiful Sgian, Where did you aquire it?

Mine is from The Real Sgian Dubh Company courtesy of my father. It is quite nice for the price, with hallmarked silver fittings and buffalo horn handle/case. In addition to sharpening it, I also had to do some work on the Celtic knots with a drill burr to make it 3D.