Quote Originally Posted by flyv65
It's very attractive and blindingly affordable: congrats on a purchase that suits you. Myself, I prefer live blades, so I might be one of the "knife snobs" to which you refer :smile: . I expect this is a classic example of the "to each his own" approach we practise here at XMarks.

Bryan...bought my dirk years ago from Scotia Metalworks, skein dubh coming from Rab this spring...
Fly,

These inexpensive dirks are apparently made by the company that makes blades for the Indian Army. The one I have is a copy of the Model 1872 (IIRC) Piper's Dirk. The blades are high carbon steel, highly polished, and they are honestly hafted. The blades are dull, but sharpenable and will hold an edge. I thought about it for mine, but in the end decided against. I do want to wear it for ceremonial occasions, and many of those are in venues where a live blade is a distinct no no. As it is, I can draw it in an unthreatening fashion, hand it hilt first to the guard and tell him "Just feel that edge, officer." There follows an embarrased laugh and he hands it back to be returned to sheath. Cheap as it is, I don't want it confiscated when I wear it to Burns Night.

Will Pratt