Sharpen a Sgian Dubh?

[BBNC]

I'm going to build a Sgian Dubh. The blade is Damascus (unsharpened), and the handle is bog oak. That aside, my question is this: Do I sharpen it, or leave it dull? Apparently there have been events which banned sharpened Sgian Dubhs. Do I make two...one for real, and one for decoration?

As a knife collector, user and former maker, I believe a dull knife is no knife at all.

What's the consensus?

Bruce

[Geoff Withnell]

You will find varying opinions. My own is if I can't carry a properly sharpened knife, I don't carry one at all. Here, I have never had a problem, even at the Maryland renfair that officially bans even fake weapons - and then sells them.

I'm going to build a Sgian Dubh. The blade is Damascus (unsharpened), and the handle is bog oak. That aside, my question is this: Do I sharpen it, or leave it dull? Apparently there have been events which banned sharpened Sgian Dubhs. Do I make two...one for real, and one for decoration?

As a knife collector, user and former maker, I believe a dull knife is no knife at all.

What's the consensus?

Bruce

[nagod]

i only wear functional knives,so i say sharpen it,

[Cranky]

If it were me, it'd be sharp. Otherwise, it has no practical use and is just a silly decoration.

[CMcG]

I also think a knife should be sharp, otherwise it is just a glorified letter-opener. If you sometimes attend events where knives are banned, including a sgian dubh, you could consider making some kind of "sgian don't," which would have something like a bottle opener, hair comb, etc instead of a blade.

[Singlemalt]

I would say sharpen it as well. I am not aware of any restrictions or regulations which say it is OK to carry a dull knife but you can't have a sharp one. If the situation is appropriate to have a knife you might as well have a useful one. If it is not then don't carry one at all.

[KenB]

Sharpen it. Ditto on the above comment , ...."it'd be sharp. Otherwise, it has no practical use and is just a silly decoration."

[TheOfficialBren]

I agree. Sharpen it. Not to be an echo but a dull knife is useless and is merely a decoration.

[Dale Seago]

I'm with. . .well, everyone else on this thread so far. Sharpen it. If you can't wear a real knife, then simply don't wear one.

An alternative to consider:

http://www.bestgear.com/stag+horn+bottle+opener

[Laird_M]

As I've had to use mine everytime I wear it, I echo a dull blade ain't no use to man nor beast.