Replacing Antique Sgian Dubh Blade

[Dram]

Well here it is. Made in 1915 according to the hallmarks. MacKay and Chisholm. I do have a few questions for you experts. Is this a military or civilian sgian? The wood handle appears to be African Blackwood rather than Ebony (I have a lot of experience with both types of wood).

The carving and engraving is first rate.

The blade is a bit of a mystery. It has no markings whatsoever and is of an extremely hard metal. My boss and I attempted to buff out the scratches with a grinder/buffer and it didn't even phase the metal. What kind of metal is this? What would have been used in 1915? Perhaps the blade was already replaced (It seems to be original)?

[Dram]

The hallmarks I am getting from the sheath are an Anchor a Thistle, and an "I".

Interestingly, the parts on the sgian are not hallmarked. Was this common practice? Why not hallmark those pieces too?

Thanks.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The hallmarks I am getting from the sheath are an Anchor a Thistle, and an "I".

Interestingly, the parts on the sgian are not hallmarked. Was this common practice? Why not hallmark those pieces too?

Thanks.

There are several reasons why the sgian dubh may not be hallmarked:

1. Only the fittings on the sheath are sterling silver; the other fittings may be coin silver, which is more durable than sterling but isn't "pure" silver.
2. The fittings on both pieces are sterling, but the maker didn't want to pay extra for the extra hallmarks.
3. At some point the hallmarked sgian dubh was replaced by the one now associated with the sheath.

The blade on your sgian dubh is probably made from "tool steel", as are files. Many small Sheffield companies turned out blades of varying quality (and hardness) made from scrap steel purchased from manufacturers of other products-- anything from garden tools to railroad tracks could end up being used by some of these companies.

All in all it's a nice Edwardian piece.

So leave the blade alone, okay?

[Dram]

There are several reasons why the sgian dubh may not be hallmarked:

1. Only the fittings on the sheath are sterling silver; the other fittings may be coin silver, which is more durable than sterling but isn't "pure" silver.
2. The fittings on both pieces are sterling, but the maker didn't want to pay extra for the extra hallmarks.
3. At some point the hallmarked sgian dubh was replaced by the one now associated with the sheath.

The blade on your sgian dubh is probably made from "tool steel", as are files. Many small Sheffield companies turned out blades of varying quality (and hardness) made from scrap steel purchased from manufacturers of other products-- anything from garden tools to railroad tracks could end up being used by some of these companies.

All in all it's a nice Edwardian piece.

So leave the blade alone, okay?

The silver on the sgian itself is definitely the same engraver and style as is on the sheath (If you look at the engraving on top, next to the ball it is a perfect match to the sheath) so I believe it to be original, but perhaps it is coin silver. Same patina when looking at it in person.

LOL. I will most certainly leave the blade alone!!! No more messing with it!

[Dram]

Correction on hallmark. The first symbol is a Castle, not an anchor as I originally posted.

[BoldHighlander]

That's a very nice sgian dubh. I'd almost think it's civilian rather than military in origin (but I could be wrong).
I'll let someone else speak to rather the blade is original or not, but I will join the chorus & say do not replace it! I'd even be hesitant about cleaning/buffing it too much.
I had a friend who once found some antique (& very tarnished) silver spoons in an abandoned house. He took them home, decided to spiff them up, thinking that shiny they'd be worth more only to later find out that by cleaning them he reduced their value to but a wee fraction of what they would've been tarnished

[Dram]

That's a very nice sgian dubh. I'd almost think it's civilian rather than military in origin (but I could be wrong).
I'll let someone else speak to rather the blade is original or not, but I will join the chorus & say do not replace it! I'd even be hesitant about cleaning/buffing it too much.
I had a friend who once found some antique (& very tarnished) silver spoons in an abandoned house. He took them home, decided to spiff them up, thinking that shiny they'd be worth more only to later find out that by cleaning them he reduced their value to but a wee fraction of what they would've been tarnished

Thanks. I would prefer it to be civilian as I have no military affiliation and wouldn't wish to offend anyone. Another sgian that I really like that IS military is the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The engraving on those sgians is really very attractive.

What really attracted me to this sgian was the carving of the handle, I've not seen one like this before (similar but not as ornate). I do hope it is blackwood rather than ebony as blackwood is much more durable and longer lasting than ebony. The hand engraving is very nice too.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Thanks. I would prefer it to be civilian as I have no military affiliation and wouldn't wish to offend anyone. Another sgian that I really like that IS military is the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The engraving on those sgians is really very attractive.

What really attracted me to this sgian was the carving of the handle, I've not seen one like this before (similar but not as ornate). I do hope it is blackwood rather than ebony as blackwood is much more durable and longer lasting than ebony. The hand engraving is very nice too.

Very few sgian dubhs are actually carved from African Blackwood or ebony. Most are carved from linden, or similar easily carved woods, and then stained black.

[Dram]

Very few sgian dubhs are actually carved from African Blackwood or ebony. Most are carved from linden, or similar easily carved woods, and then stained black.

When looking on the back of the sgian, I can see a small streak of light brown, there is also a tiny bit in the carving. I can also see the grain in the wood and it looks identical to blackwood, the handle is very dense and has a weight to it similar to ABW. Another point which leads me to believe it is ABW is that ABW has a very distinct oil property to it, and I can identify this in the handle.

[nagod]

blade looks stainless to me.i wouldnt worry about buffing it out,but it has no patina to lose.