As I told James, I made the blade over a year ago with the intention of using it myself. I never got around to putting a handle on it, so it must not have been that important to me. So, when I saw the kilt offered for trade, I contacted him and finally finished off the knife. I was very pleased with the caribou antler handle, as it has a curve that fits my calf muscle very well. I was tempted to to keep it, but had already made the offer.

My experience with carbon steels makes me really prefer them over stainless. I used to have my 440C and ATS 34 heat-treated by Paul Bos, but I just don't like those steels very much anymore. So, now I feel more in contact with each step of the process by doing my own heat-treat on steels that I know I can treat properly. This sgian dubh should hold an edge well and be very durable at the same time. (By the way, James, if you ever have any problem with the knife, contact me and I will make it right.)

I make knives for personal pleasure, not for profit. I have found that trying to make a business out of a hobby doesn't work for me. Consequently, there is a certain freedom to make what I want with no regard to whether I think it will sell. In this case, another person liked what I had made and traded a SWK for it. I was wanting to get one and evaluate how I like the style and construction anyway. (My kilt experience has all been with a wool "tank" and several self-made efforts of varying success.) Right now, $80 is more than I am able to drop on a garment, but the knife stuff is all there in my little workshop. So, a few enjoyable afternoons with tools and materials already paid for resulted in a chance to grab a kilt in my size (with the hope that someday soon the kilt will have to be taken in, as I do plan to reduce my waistline).

And if anyone else ever has reason to do business with James, I found him to be a very good person to trade with. Excellent communication, immediate shipping, and I get the idea from our online communications that he is a really decent guy. So, both sides of the transaction are satisfied.

Hope that's not too much from me.

-Patrick