I have a knife maker who like me trains a few dogs and he has decided to take me on as an apprentice for long enough to build a sgian dubh. I will be forging the blade, shaping and adding cape buffalo horn handle.

What was a traditional sgian made from? Were highlanders working with damascus? What is meant by a left handed or right handed sgian?

We are just starting to think about the sheath. What was the traditional sheath? Just a leather cover for the blade? Or is the sheath formed from another material and then covered with thinner leather? What is the genesis of the ornimentation?

Many thanks to those who have helped in the past, especially Ian.

David