White handled sgian?

[Drac]

Hello all,

I just got some VERY special materials in from a trade with another knife maker.



The steel is damascus to be used in a sgain or two (now that I can get into the shop without risking heat stroke to bad). The upper piece is a walrus tooth and the smaller piece is elephant. I was considering using them on a sqian dubh but not sure how a white sqian would be received?

Jim

[Cygnus]

Wow! Those are some incredible materials and they'll make beautiful Sgians Dubh.

For daywear, nobody will think twice about the white Sgian Dubh (Sgian Bán?). However, in looking through the nearest book on highland garb I have on hand, the author goes out of his way to specify that sgians for formal dress are black.

There is the chance, though, that the cost and quality of the materials are enough to carry them into the realms of formal wear.

I'm no expert, though, so we'll leave it for the kilted-veterans to weigh in!

[davidlpope]

Rab Gordon made a really nice sgian out of mammoth ivory. You can see a photo of it here, on the right side of the page:

http://www.rainnea.com/feedback.htm

[KFCarter]

A white sgian dubh can be beautiful. IMHO those materials have great potential!

[ScottyB]

An ivory handle sgian would be wonderful. I would want one.

[Dale Seago]

I wouldn't hesitate to wear such a knife on formal occasions. BTW that Rab Gordon piece is SWEET! He's been making a sgian for me that should ship sometime this week.

[Drac]

Thanks.

I would see if Rab would do a trade in materials but I can't ship walrus ivory over seas.

Jim

[piperdbh]

The ivory will be a masterpiece, but I'm interested to see what you do with those pieces of blue stone, and even more interested to know if you have any green stones. Hmmm...

[Drac]

unfortunately the blue (coral as well as the next two to the left) are too thin for the front side of my full tang sgain dubh. They are only 1/8" thick and the front piece has to be 1/4".

I don't know of any green coral. I have reconstituted malachite that I plan to use for a dress sgain dubn. I think it would be more than cool with my Lamont.



Jim

[Kiltboy]

Wow. I can't wait to see the results. I think a white or off-white sqian would be perfect for day ware. Hope your workshop has powerful a/c. This dfw weather has been miserable.