Sgian dhu II

[NewKilt]

David,

I put quite a bit of thought into the purchase of my first sgian dubh. I wanted something that looked conservative, simple, yet elegant - something for daywear, yet something that could also be worn for dress occasions. I finally decided on the Torridon Sgian Dubh from the Scottish Tartans Museum. I am well satisfied with my purchase, and would indeed wear it for dress as well as daywear. The following is a description from the Scottish Tartans Museum followed by the URL:

"The Torridon is a quality daywear sgian dubh that is also suitable for dress occasions. It has a real blackwood handle, the same wood used to make the finer bagpipes. It has highly polished pewter mounts and a quality leather hide sheath. It represents excellent value for money for a knife of this quality."

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/blackknife.html

The sheath is plain black with a Celtic knot type embossment. Cost is $53, and sales help support the museum.

Darrell

[billmcc]

I don't bother with a Sgain Dhu for day wear. As Richland stated, openly carrying a knife could be troublesome. Furthermore, a pocket knife is more practical.

I think a Sgain Dhu is more appropriate as a formal accessory. If you want something really nice, go with Rab Gordon. If you are looking for a stock item, check out the good selection of knives at the Scottish Tartans Museum.

[cavscout]

Track of the Wolf has a nice blade for a nice price.

[Mike S]

I have to chime in here:
Be fore warned that the Sgian Track of the Wolf is selling is a real P.O.S., made in India with deplorable materials/workmanship.
I bought one on a whim to use the blade and scabbard with a nice piece of Stag horn I had for the handle, and ended up replacing just about everything on it. Granted I already have 4 Sgians, but that is beside the point(pardon the pun).

The blade is low grade steel and hasn't been tempered/hardened properly, making it very bendable and unable to hold a keen edge. The fittings aren't Nickel Silver as advertised, but Rhodium plated brass, which flakes off if you so much as look at it too strongly. The fit and finish is really bad, they obviously picked one in a hundred to photograph for the ad.

If you are hell bent on getting this model, Dixie Gun Works in Union City Tenn has the exact same Sgian on sale right now for $9.95 (check out their web sight). For $35.00 Atlanta Cutlery/Museum Replicas sells a nice Ebony handled model made by Windless Steelcraft (still Indian made, but far better quality) that is much better all around for the money.

[David Thornton]

Thank you Mike. I have done so much searching over the last 5 days that I think I am able to recognize every mass produced sgian by picture, know who made it, abd what the price should be. I've seen everything form the BudK model, which sells for as little as .01 on ebay, to $12000 for a Bryan Lyttle original.
I do think I'll wind up with two. Probably a mid range stag handle for day and a custom job for dress when I find the right one. And I'll spend more than .01, but certainly less than the $12000!
Keep it coming guys.
David

[Mike S]

Hi David,
Here is a picture of the Windless Steelcraft Sgian I mentioned above. It is of the Budget variety, however unlike others in this class, it has a functional, High Carbon blade (certainly not "Art Knife", quality, but usable), and generally sound workmanship and NO plastic:


We aren't talking anywhere near heirloom quality here, but a really nice Sgian starts off in the low hundreds and goes up from there. I have one of the antique $800 jobs, but frankly I'm petrified to wear it out for fear of losing or damaging it. Enter the 4 others I use in the "real" world.

[auld argonian]

Here's my temporary solution:

http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eC...2&SKU=SWHRT3BF

It's about the right size and it sure is "dhub". Not the greatest knife that I own but adequate...until I find the sghian of my dreams (and can afford it).

The sheath is plastic and has a detachable clip on it...detach the clip and it fits in and stays put in the "sock top" quite nicely. Non traditional but I just can't see buying an "authentic" looking one that's a piece of cr*p.

Best

AA

[Toronto Jerry]

If you're interested in making your own sgian dubh, there's a company called Atlanta Cutlery (they're on the web) that used to sell damascus blades for sgian dubhs and dirks (don't know if they still do). If you wanted to go with the antler handle, check out some of the antique shops. I saw a rack in one recently for $15. The handle blanks through knife supply shops can be costly.

Cheers,

TJ