sgian dubh blades

**DWFII** · 19th May 08, 07:01 AM

I saw a nice looking sgian dubh on Ebay the other day...wood handle, hard sheath...but it had a stainless steel blade.

I've used knives all my adult life and can sharpen a good blade so that it is "scary sharp."

But I've never used or even handled a stainless steel blade. Are they hard to sharpen? Will they hold an edge? I'm guessing they're not premium but thought I would ask.

**James MacMillan** · 19th May 08, 07:37 AM

For me stainless steel has it's place, like for maybe dive knives, or hunting blades that would be subjected to extreme conditions..... but I don't much like them. They are fairly easy to sharpen with a grinder or a diamond file, and will hold an edge for a while.

I like high carbon steel, but others like stainless.

A good guide to steel can be found ..here..

**Ryan Ross** · 19th May 08, 07:59 AM

I agree. Stainless has it's place. That said, there's good stainless and bad stainless. I find that many, if not most sgian dubhs are made from pretty poor quality stainless. With low quality stainless, I find it can sometimes be quite difficult to sharpen and edge holding can sometimes be a problem, too.

I'm the same way, come to knives. I always carry a good one. I also think it's lame to carry a sgian dubh, but still have to carry another knife, due to having a bad blade on the sgian. That's why I haven't really worn a sgian dubh in years.

As luck would have it though, the Atlanta Blade Show is coming up in less than two weeks, and I'm hoping to find a nice hand forged carbon steel one, there. For me, carbon steel is the way to go.

**thescot** · 19th May 08, 08:53 AM

It depends on your intended use of the knife. Stainless is, of course, less likely to rust, and wearing a knife against your leg will definitely get some corrosive sweat on it. I have a blade that looked great until it got all cruddy and I had to do some extensive polishing to make it look good again.

If you insist on a really good blade on your sgian (as opposed to wearing one for looks) then you can either pop for big bucks or have one made or even make on yourself. I have a couple of good ones and a couple of cheapoes, and I choose the purpose of the blade when I get dressed.

**DWFII** · 19th May 08, 05:30 PM

Thanks to all. I think I'll stick with the carbon blade offered by Atalanta Cutlery (?)

At least I'll know what to expect when I sharpen it.

**Ryan Ross** · 19th May 08, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by DWFII

Thanks to all. I think I'll stick with the carbon blade offered by Atalanta Cutlery (?)

At least I'll know what to expect when I sharpen it.

If you get one from Atlanta Cutlery, could you let me know about it's quality? I live pretty close to their ware house and show room, and go there from time to time, but always forget to take a look at their sgian dubhs.

**James MacMillan** · 19th May 08, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

If you get one from Atlanta Cutlery, could you let me know about it's quality? I live pretty close to their ware house and show room, and go there from time to time, but always forget to take a look at their sgian dubhs.

I've been carrying one of several made from their blades lately, and I am very pleased with it. They don't give much details about the metal, only say that it is "high carbon" but it held up slicing and cutting many (about 100) boxes apart yesterday before needing the edge to be dressed.

One older one is developing some nice patina, that I like.

**bigdad1** · 19th May 08, 09:09 PM

Stainless blades have been used for many years. If properly sharpened to begin with and then heat treated it will hold a very sharp edge for much longer than the normal carbon steel. The most important factor is using the correct grade of stainless. Typically the higher 400 series must be used. One thing that must be remembered is that stainless steel will rust and must be cleaned of seat and the oils from your hands.
I carried a fighting knife with a stainless blade in Southeast Asia and it served me quite well.
Semper Fi

**bigdad1** · 19th May 08, 09:10 PM

Duplicate entry

**Ryan Ross** · 20th May 08, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by James MacMillan

I've been carrying one of several made from their blades lately, and I am very pleased with it. They don't give much details about the metal, only say that it is "high carbon" but it held up slicing and cutting many (about 100) boxes apart yesterday before needing the edge to be dressed.

One older one is developing some nice patina, that I like.

Ah, thanks for the intel.

I may have to pick up a couple, next time I'm in that neighborhood.