Sgian Dubh substitutes.

[Panache]

That was probably Panache.

Wade,

I believe I was the one to coin the term (and play on words) "sgian don't" here on XMTS to mean something that looks like a sgian dubh but isn't.

If you have some wood working tools it is really easy to whip up a "sgian don't". Heck all you really need is a good whittling knife to make one.

For some ideas here is what I have made



White tail deer antler, and Australian Lace wood bottle openers made for Big Mikey



My Australian Lace wood blank



A complimentary set of sgian dubh and sgian don't I made for A_Hay! using the same set of deer antlers




Oak, Cherry, and Beech bottle openers




A close up



My comb sgian don't, bottle opener sgian don't (made from an old hammer handle), and my ox horn sgian dubh from the Scottish Tartans Museum for scale.

Hope this inspires you to try your hand at making your own.

One word of caution. Looking at Chrome Scholar's blank sgian don't I would be wary against making the "blade" of a "blank" style sgian don't too real looking. The idea is you are making something that represents the knife traditionally worn with Highland apparel. Making a too realistic blade (ie: thin and pointed) makes your blank a "one shot" disposable stabbing weapon.

Before anyone steps in and says "anything can be a weapon" let me note that the point of a sgian don't is to be a useful or decorative alternative to a knife to be worn where a knife shouldn't or couldn't be carried. I know that if anyone has concerns about me carrying a knife that they will be relieved when I show my handiwork.

Cheers

Jamie