My New Sgian Dubh

[Erikm]

Got my first Sgian today! Got myself a great deal on this handmade one off eBay.

Anza high carbon tool steel, with solid ebony handle and aluminium ferrule with leather sheath. Not sure who the maker was, though. Is this anyone's handy work from this forum? What do you think only paid about $10.00




Well I'm one happy buyer. The Sgian is great ...

[Bob C]

I've never seen a sgian anything like that before. Looks like a knife that was ground down.

[Erikm]

What it said in the ebay item page it was-a practical scots utility pocket carry(or sock) knife? Unusual Anza High Carbon tool steel made from a file,File marks still part visible on blade. 60x20x3mm. Handle: Hidden tang minimum 1/3rd lengh of the solid Ebony handle. Aluminium Ferrule. Slim profile for yor sock or boot.Sheath: Hand-made for knife, from Brown leather. But for $10.00 still not to bad

[Howard Clark]

The block of Gabon ebony is worth more than $10, if you can find any, nowadays.

[Blinki]

The way I see it you got a pretty neat functional knife for the same or less the the standard El-Cheapo, plastic handle, never going to hold an edge blade sgian dubh normally sold on Ebay. Its a great little knife hope you get alot of use from it.

[Highlander31]

$10.00,...looks like a good deal to me.

[bunchdescendant]

Knives made (properly) from a file can hold an insanely sharp edge. I have a small hunting knife made from a Nicholson file that you can shave with! A friend cut himself with it testing the edge, not knowing he had done so until later, when the blood started dripping on the floor.

Looks like a good score!

Ray

[Erikm]

Thanks everyone I really do like the knife I am still working on making my own sgian I should have a chance to finish it up this week. The blade is very sharp I got me an El-Cheapo a while back, and this knife is very well made compared to it.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Files make super knives, they have to be harder than the mild steel they are designed to cut! Another good source, (if they are still in use) are power hack-saw blades, about 3mm thick, 25mm or so wide and they come anywhere from 30cm 90cm long. They were used in machine shops. When they got dull, they were thrown into the scrap bin.

My Father made a set of kitchen knives for my mother back in the 20's from these, one of my brother's still has them, his wife jokes if they ever get divorced, she gets to keep the knives.

Just remember when grinding them to shape, not to let them get too hot, or you can draw the temper out of them, and re-tempering is a mystic art, practiced by secretive persons in leather aprons in dim caverns back in the hills.

[bigdad1]

Just remember when grinding them to shape, not to let them get too hot, or you can draw the temper out of them, and re-tempering is a mystic art, practiced by secretive persons in leather aprons in dim caverns back in the hills.[/QUOTE]

As a person who has been involved in the metals industry for almost 35 years I can't stress how very true and important that statement is. The key is to take your time and grind small portions at a time. Don't press too hard against the grinding wheel trying to take off large amounts of material all at once. Slow and easy will allow the metal to retain its temper and thus its ability to take and hold an edge. If the metal loses its temper the edge will be quick to dull and the entire blade will be brittle.