Using a Mora No. 1 as a Sgian Dubh

[rescout]

The No. 1 seemed to work fine, but a smaller Mora might be a dandy. I've just never got around to buying one. I have bought some Moras from Ragweed Forge (great guy) and it just happens that a local camping/prepper store has started stocking Mora knives . . . though not one of the small traditional versions. Thinning the wood handle of any traditional Mora is also an interesting idea. Some people like to do a bit of carving on their wood Mora handles, so that is always an option too on the outward facing side. For less than a "costume" sgian dubh, a fellow could get a Mora and experiment to his heart's content.

The "wet spot" on the handle in one of the pictures is just that. The weekend varied from misty to rainy, though not unpleasantly cold or windy.

Bwat, the Scandanavians make some fine knives, and the Swedish one at your link is indeed pretty.

I normally always have a Swiss Army knife in my pocket. With the kilt, I decided not to carry it in the sporran. So it was indeed useful to have the Mora tucked into a sock.

I was thumbing through an AG Russell catalog the other day, and so another knife that might make a good modern alternative to the traditional sgian dubh. The model names are "Hunter's Scalpel" and "Bird and Trout". They are good knives, reasonably priced, the sheath "thumbolt" is secure and easy to use (I have a larger version called the "Deer Hunter" that is apparently discontinued), and the handle is black, flat, and checkered for secure grip. If one used it tuck in a sock, I suppose you could sand the checkering some on the "leg" side of the handle.

[Benning Boy]

The Hunters Scalpels are pretty small, and apt to get lost in a stocking. Think fixed bladed pen knife. The Trout and Bird knives have a very small handle, although quite flat. I tried one once, but it was just too little for my large hand. It seemed no matter how hard I gripped, I never really got a proper hold on it. It felt unsafe to me. However, as a modern outdoorsman's version of the sgian, it would probably due. The thumb locks are very secure, and might make drawing from the stocking top a little more complicated than a traditional sgian, or even one of the Mora knives.

For me, it's hard to say what evolutionary forces drove the development of the sgian dubh. I think for a great many decades it has been purely decorative, any ancient practicality is lost. However, I can see that a Scouter would want, nae need a practical knife for doing camp chores. The Scandinavian type blades evolved to be utilitarian first and foremost. And even the most artfully made custom Scandinavian knives retain all the practical traits of the most basic knives. You can't say that about a Highland sgian dubh.

[Pothuset]

A Mora knife is a tool for craftsmen working with wood.

[Sir Didymous]

As a true proponent of practical sgian dubh, I bought mine at a reenactment shop. It's a traditional style with most of the bells and whistles, like the nickel silver mounts and carved-on-one-side black handle, but it has no gem on the top of the handle. With it's hand made carbon steel blade, it serves as a great all around tool. I usually carry another (larger) fixed blade when camping to handle the larger chores. I also have a little knife that I picked up from a Native American reenactor at a timeline event. He was making knives from broken camp goods and other accumulated bits to show how many Native Americans would reuse things left/discarded by the "white men". It is a broken straight razor blade cut to a more practical shape and fixed to an antler point for the handle using natural glues. It is remarkably sturdy and I made a rather rough looking sheath for it out of some odd scrap leather (though I need to make a better one). I use it for day wear and it works quite well even though it's a bit smaller than my traditional style sgian. This page has some nice options and anything marked "Battle Ready" is indeed very functional. The owner knows his business and won't mark anything as functional unless it is. http://www.kultofathena.com/daggers-historic.asp