Using a Mora No. 1 as a Sgian Dubh

[rescout]

This is probably not an original idea. We just finished a Scout Camporee with a Scottish Games theme. Several good ladies of my son's Troop made flannel Black Watch kilts. I got a bit caught up in it and picked up some accessories, but one item I refrained from buying was a cheap sgian dubh. Because I wanted to see how the kilt out worked first (grrreat!) and because I want a knife to be a useful, good knife.

I have a humble Mora No 1 for which in the past I burned off the factory handle red paint, darkening the birch, treated it with tung oil, and waxed. The blade was given a quick, dirty, and amateur cold blue using Oxphoblue. This is an inexpensive knife, but done with good Swedish carbon steel, well built, very lightweight, and comfortable. It comes with a simple plastic sheath that happens to be reasonably secure, quite compact, and indifferent to water and sweat. I thus tucked it into my knee length scout socks and there you are. It's not as flat as a real Sgian Dubh, but as a using knife it's probably better.

It's said that Scouting today looks down on a fixed blade, but they are not explicitly forbidden, so it worked fine in this environment. It doesn't hurt that the Mora as a sterling reputation as an outdoorsman or "bushcraft" knife!

I'll put up some picture links in a later post.

[MacEanruig]

Good idea! I'm sure you've planned a class for the Scouts on proper knife handling skills. In other words, "no horsin' around with them, blades boys."

[bwat]

I've long thought that the Swedish fjällkniv would make a fantastic sgian dubh. They make your morakniv look boring My current favourite: http://www.friluftsvaror.se/knivar-o...an-sattajaervi

[uncle remus]

I purchased a knife made from a file a few years ago and was debating on using it as a sgian dubh. It has a dyed wood hilt and is about 6-8" overall. it's an anza model mc-9 with a leather belt sheath that covers about 1/2 of the hilt.

[rescout]

The width of the handle isn't true to the ideal, but it does keep the knife and sheath from slipping down into the sock.

As the Scots had a Nordic influence during the Viking era . . . why not!

[rescout]

A couple more.

[rescout]

I'm afraid I may have posted in the wrong sub forum. I don't think of a Mora is a "weapon", although some consider any usable knife a "weapon". A Mora is a utility knife. Certainly not akin to a dirk or a basket hilt sword. My apologies; I was rushing the post and should have read the rules carefully.

[Tasty Rabbit]

Being it's a wood grip you could shave down the side that goes against your leg for a better fit . Bwat I have no idea what anything on that page says but wow that knife looks great !

[Benning Boy]

Although I find the Mora #1 knives very handy, I own several, they seem to me a bit big to serve as stocking stuffers, although I can see how one might pass in a Scouting setting. I'd use one of the smaller Mora-type knives for the purpose, if I were going to use a traditional Mora. Look up Ragweed Forge for a great many options. Also check out this site: https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.ph...&cPath=119_113 There are many blades there that could be used to make a sgian, but you'll have to dig for them, there are so many to chose from. Sure, they're Scandinavian blades, but remember that Scandinavians settled parts of the Highlands and the Islands, and became Highland clansmen in time. Sure that was well before the Lairds' 1930's cutoff date, but I'd be willing to call them THCD

[California Highlander]

I always thought a Mora 2/0 with some additional thinning of the handle would be just about right. 3" blade, 3 5/8" handle.