Could be a sgian dubh

[TheKiltedWonder]

In your mind is the sgian dubh just like a ring on your finger or a necklace around your neck?

I think you misread/misunderstood what I said. I wasn't trying to say that a sgian dubh was the same as ring to me; I was merely remarking that the dull blade seems to be common in my experience...

[Thunderbolt]

I completely agree that a sgian dubh is a tool, not an ornament. The kilt is a very practical item of wear, so is most of the other items worn along with the kilt, so why would I carry something that is useless?

I'm glad TheKiltedWonder clarified his point, and I agree.

Actually, I've been told that all of the Sgian dubh's coming out of the UK are dull now, by law. Pathetic.

I actually refused to wear one for many years until I found one that was usable as a real knife. It was this one-

http://www.fernknives.com/cold-steel/mini-culloden/459/

Unfortunately, it has been discontinued. Blah.

T.

Edit- They are making one called the Brave Heart, here-

http://www.fernknives.com/cold-steel...196/index.html

A good alternative?

[James MacMillan]

I think you misread/misunderstood what I said. I wasn't trying to say that a sgian dubh was the same as ring to me; I was merely remarking that the dull blade seems to be common in my experience...

Well without an edge, a sgian dubh would just be useful as a stabbing weapon, whereas with an edge, a sgian dubh is a tool as well as an emergency weapon.

I come from the age where all men and boys above a certain age carried a pocket knife. This folding pocket knife normally had two or three blades and was a tool used to cut things. Most of the women in my life have also carried a small knife in their purse. The knife is a tool.

It just seems strange to me to own a blade that you could not use.

Now as to "the dull blade seems to be common in my experience.." I have known knife makers that do not put a finished edge on a blade, leaving that to the final owner. Some knife owners are very particular about how their blades are maintained and some want different angles for different uses.

I would direct you here for a very nice tutorial on sharpening a knife.

[Archangel]

After that, its acceptable as its a bit different than a standard sgian, sticks out a bit, and the end cap actually has a 3-D molded crown on it.

Doesn't the crown on it make a Windlass, India, product?

Not that that's a big deal, it should say where it was made.

Windlass isn't bad, they are usually not so expensive.

[TheSp8]

I sure can't speak for anyone else, but a knife that can't be used is an ornament, and would never be carried by me.

Yeah, what the Marine said. To me, even an ornamental knife has to be functional. It should be able to clean under my nails, cut a piece of string, or process large game with equal ease. That being said, all commercially made sgian dubh I've seen have been duller than a hammer. We looked at many many in Scotland and all were dull with a few even having questionable points. Bummer.

YMOS,
Tony

[Rab Gordon]

Actually, I've been told that all of the Sgian dubh's coming out of the UK are dull now, by law. Pathetic.

There is no UK or Scottish law that I am aware of requiring the Sgian Dubh to be blunt but I know that some companies make them blunt to be on the safe side.
I don't sharpen my Sgian Dubhs unless requested to do so but usually put on at least a nominal edge for ones going to the US.

Rab

[James MacMillan]

- - - -but usually put on at least a nominal edge for ones going to the US.

-and that's so we can hunt and then cut the rare wild nominals?

[Riverkilt]

I'll vote for functional. Two weeks ago was rolling home over the high dirt roads of Black Mesa down in the rezlands. My lady had given me an apple and some cheese for the ride home.

Was so cool just to reach down and pull out my new Navajo sgian dubh, slice off some apple, slice off some cheese, and feel functional.

Course, these days a man's gotta think ahead as to where he's gonna be.

Last year I got pulled over for speeding (trap of course) on the Navajo Rez down by Dilkon. Was in full turn out after the Flagstaff games...including sgian dubh. While talking to the cop remembered it was there and changed my stance so the sgian dubh was out of his sight. No point in complicating things unnecessarily. It was one of the dull blade versions...but since I had to explain the Highland Games to him (No sir, there's no score, its more like a Pow Wow) I didn't want to have to explain a semi-concealed weapon to him.

Ron

[Piper]

A cool little knife that would work as a unique sgian dubh. You'd have to make your own sheath, though:

Guess I'm starting one step further back. The gent that makes these blades had some out for sale at the EPR in Lancaster PA back in Sept. I picked up one of the ones that caught Woodsheal's eye, as well as a slightly larger one, with a more squared off full tang. The first photo shows the two of them between a couple of other unfinished projects.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...rk/Blades1.jpg

The second shot is just those particular blades with the rough cut elk antler scales I'm going to put on them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...rk/blades2.jpg

I think I may suffer from "project related ADHD", seems like I've always got a bunch of irons in the fire. At current count, I have at least 6 knives in various stages of completion. There are also a couple of powder horns, straps for same, stock repair on a flintlock rifle for my son and an old set of pipes I'm trying to fit reeds to and get up and running. No worries about being bored by spending too much time on any one thing, I guess.

[TheSp8]

The first photo shows the two of them between a couple of other unfinished projects.

I really like that roach belly on the right. Where'd you get the blade? I'm always looking to get that next new scalping knife.

YMOS,
Tony