Unsharpened Sgian Dubh

[Bob C]

A while back, Riverkilt wrote about a sgian dubh he received that came unsharpened. I don't mean that it didn't have a good edge - I mean it had no edge at all. The "cutting" side was every bit as rounded as the other side.

I got one of those, too, and I wondered if anyone else has had any luck getting such a blade sharpened. I bought the sgian on eBay, and it's produced by The Sgian Dubh Company in Scotland. It's a dress knife and I had set it aside because I haven't had a dress event in a while. I've got one next weekend and I'd be a bit embarrassed to show folks a knife with no edge.

Any experience out there?

[Woodsheal]

Lots of elbow grease! First some serious filing, followed by standard sharpening with various grades of whetstones. You could start out the process with some judicious application of a bench grinder, but there you risk overheating the blade and removing its temper....

[ChromeScholar]

Take it to a knife shop that does sharpening. Have them put an edge on it. If you don't know what you're doing, you risk ruining the blade. If you decide to do it yourself, look for a hand knife sharpener. Something like what you'd find here. Then it takes elbow grease (well, not really elbow grease, but it takes a while). Don't use a power grinder.

[Bob C]

Take it to a knife shop that does sharpening. Have them put an edge on it. If you don't know what you're doing, you risk ruining the blade. If you decide to do it yourself, look for a hand knife sharpener. Something like what you'd find here. Then it takes elbow grease (well, not really elbow grease, but it takes a while). Don't use a power grinder.

Oh, believe me - I have NO intention of trying to do this myself. I just wondered if anyone had done it or seen it done without completely ruining the look of the blade.

The really odd thing is, they first sent me one with a sharpened edge. When I complained about the condition of the handle, they sent me one with a better handle but the dull edge. Otherwise, they're identical.

[ChattanCat]

Oh, believe me - I have NO intention of trying to do this myself. I just wondered if anyone had done it or seen it done without completely ruining the look of the blade.

The really odd thing is, they first sent me one with a sharpened edge. When I complained about the condition of the handle, they sent me one with a better handle but the dull edge. Otherwise, they're identical.

Third stike is a charm? Try sending it back again (sounds like a reputable business)

[James MacMillan]

The sgian dubh blades that I have ordered from Atlanta Cutlery, have all come with no edge at all. But with just a very few minutes with a file, they're ready for shaving.

[Bugbear]

This information isn't needed anymore so I removed it.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

check to make sure the blade is steel-- a whole bunch of these cheapies have flash-chromed brass blades, and sharpening them only destroys the chrome.

[Bob C]

check to make sure the blade is steel-- a whole bunch of these cheapies have flash-chromed brass blades, and sharpening them only destroys the chrome.

I thought of that. The blade is steel. I actually have one of those chromed ones, which someone gave me.

[Panache]

I bought the sgian on eBay, and it's produced by The Sgian Dubh Company in Scotland. It's a dress knife and I had set it aside because I haven't had a dress event in a while. I've got one next weekend and I'd be a bit embarrassed to show folks a knife with no edge...

Bob,

I can't help but wonder at what kind of formal events you go to that require you to show your knife. Generally the well behaved Scot keeps it tucked away to preserve the mystery.

Hmmmm...wait a minute what are we talking about again?

Cheers

Jamie