Unsharpened Sgian Dubh

[Bugbear]

Guess you could get a set of japanese oil stones and a streight razor sharpening strap for after you get the edge put on there. You'll be grafting trees in a kilt in no time..

Really though, don't do anything you haven't practiced on that blade. Don't be afraid to take it to someone who can do it correctly. Good luck, and learn on an old table knife or something.

[Bob C]

can i ask why it needs to be sharpened?

This is just a wild guess, but I suspect it is so that it will cut something.

Yep. Crazy notion, eh?

[Rogerson785]

I just received a very similar sounding Sgian Dubh that is cheaply made, the handle is a composite plastic and almost looks like something a tourist would purchase or someone dressing up for a Halloween party. I will pay the extra money and get something that actually looks good, sharp or not I am disappointed with my purchase.

[bjproc]

This is just a wild guess, but I suspect it is so that it will cut something.

well, as a dress sgian dugh, as the OP states, i don't think it needs to be sharpened

[M. A. C. Newsome]

"The Sgian Dubh Company" is actually a company named Charles Buyers, who in addition to sgians dubh make walking sticks, umbrellas, flasks, pocket watches, and other fine gift items. They are located in Ayrshire. We carry their products in the museum gift shop.

This is not a "cheap knife." The blade is a high carbon stainless. They used to ship out everything with a pretty good edge already on it, but some time back (it's been more than a year now, I beleive), they changed their policy and now ship out all of their blades unsharpened. I was led to believe that it was due to a change in UK law, but I don't really know the details.

I was skeptical at first as to how people would react to the unsharpened blades, but I have only had one or two complaints. Most people understand the reason for them not wanting to ship them out pre-sharpened. And I have actually found that quite a bit of our customers in fact prefer the blades unsharpened for safety reasons. Of course there are those who would rather have them sharpened, but all that takes is a quick trip to a cutlery store and a good edge can be put on them. Easily fixed, and everyone is happy.

I would assume that the first sgian that you received was from their older stock and that is why it had the edge on it. Your replacement was most likely from a recent shipment, and therefore had no edge.

[PiobBear]

A blade without an edge is nothing more than a metal stick.

My sgian's are tools, not just fashion accessories. I’ll only rarely pull it out to show someone, and then I pull out the knife and sheath together as one, not a bare blade.

[bjproc]

now in the UK with these knife policies, i'm unsure if it would be a good idea going around with a sharp one.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The nanny-cops in the UK are such a bore... I was actually detained by the police (only for about five minutes) in London for sitting on a park bench and peeling an apple with my Swiss Army Knife. When I asked the NPC (Nanny Police Constable) to check with his Sergeant before hauling me in, he suddenly decided that maybe it wasn't an offense after all.

[bjproc]

The nanny-cops in the UK are such a bore... I was actually detained by the police (only for about five minutes) in London for sitting on a park bench and peeling an apple with my Swiss Army Knife. When I asked the NPC (Nanny Police Constable) to check with his Sergeant before hauling me in, he suddenly decided that maybe it wasn't an offense after all.

i think it used to be anything over 3", but i now think it's a knife at all & your nicked.

my dad carries a pocket knife & i'm always on to him about it.

nanny cops? i think this country has better policies about guns, maybe knifes than the US, but thats another thread altogether

[Woodsheal]

nanny cops? i think this country has better policies about guns, maybe knifes than the US, but thats another thread altogether

Whoa there, hoss...!