Sharpen a Sgian Dubh?

[thescot]

I would be willing to bet it's of Eastern origin. That being the case does not imply that it's a bad blade, in my opinion. It is likely made with fairly inexpensive steel, but if it's tempered, looks good, and meets your needs, who really cares!

If it is tempered, you will have to be cautious in sharpening it with a grinder as that can remove the tempering on the edge. I'd have it sharpened prior to shipment for that reason alone. You can always hone it to your own standard if it starts with an edge.

[ThistleDown]

You are buying this blade from Rab Gordon, a fine and reputable dealer. I think he offers three or four levels of Damascus blades and that at least one of them is Swedish steel. I suggest you call him and ask, if you are worried -- and then definitely have him sharpen it for you.

[flairball]

If it doesn't violate any forum policy would someone please list sources, and places where one might get a sharpened one?

[ThistleDown]

Flairball, my suggestion is that you find the sgian dubh you like, at the price you wish to pay, and then ask the seller to have it sharpened for you. If he can't or won't, then move on to your second choice. The sgian dubh is a tool and not an essential bit of Highland dress. Most of the advertisers on this forum sell standard makes and some will even take your commission to make something very special just for you. Some of the standards available out there are pretty worthless as tools, but my experience is that all those who advertise on XMarks stand behind their products.

[flairball]

Flairball, my suggestion is that you find the sgian dubh you like, at the price you wish to pay, and then ask the seller to have it sharpened for you...................The sgian dubh is a tool and not an essential bit of Highland dress.

I'm afraid it's not that simple. Most of the sgian dubh I see advertised do not have a blade suitable for sharpening. They are made to look pretty, and be shiny. It's my opinion that sharpening a blade that is not made to be sharpened, not made of steel, can be dangerous. That is why is ask.

I'm sure the Xmarks advertisers are offering quality products, but I will still check reviews.

As for highland dress. I have owned a sgian dubh since 2006 and have worn it twice. My klt wearing is not an effort to duplicate highland dress, and wish I hadn't wasted my money on a piece which I neither needed, nor is practical. I do, however, enjoy wearing my kilt in the outdoors, and while hiking. I seldom go into the woods without a blade of some type, and I think a good, sharp sgian dubh tucked into my hose would serve well.

[Downunder Kilt]

If it doesn't violate any forum policy would someone please list sources, and places where one might get a sharpened one?

Look no further than the Xmarks store http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...in-dubh-71982/
They come sharp and are useful in a number of applications

[MNlad]

Yet another vote for sharpened—the sharper the better. If the venue bans such things, just leave it at home or you'll be spending more time proving it's a useless piece of steel and wood than it's worth.

Only once was I asked to remove my Sgian. This while I was carrying a cane that was probably 10 times as dangerous, if such was my intent, as the wee blade in my hose.

[BBNC]

You are buying this blade from Rab Gordon, a fine and reputable dealer. I think he offers three or four levels of Damascus blades and that at least one of them is Swedish steel. I suggest you call him and ask, if you are worried -- and then definitely have him sharpen it for you.

Thistle Down, I'm not the least bit concerned about sharpening the blade properly, I'm a former knifemaker as I pointed out in my original post. My query was about whether or not it should be sharpened for carrying at public events, or left dull, as a decorator piece.

I believe the consensus is to go ahead and sharpen it, and leave it in the car if by chance sharp sgian dubhs are banned. Besides, my ever-present swiss army knife will be in the sporran.

[ThistleDown]

Thistle Down, I'm not the least bit concerned about sharpening the blade properly, I'm a former knifemaker as I pointed out in my original post. My query was about whether or not it should be sharpened for carrying at public events, or left dull, as a decorator piece.

I believe the consensus is to go ahead and sharpen it, and leave it in the car if by chance sharp sgian dubhs are banned. Besides, my ever-present swiss army knife will be in the sporran.

Sorry Bruce, I suppose I was responding to the responders as much as to you. You will know if Rab's blade can carry an edge or not. As I said, though, a sgian dubh is not some sort of of requirement with Highland dress, so you can just not ever wear it, if you don't want to, and just continue carrying its equivalent in your sporran. As for the venue, the issue really is not the edge of the knife but the point, surely. If you will already have a Swiss knife in your sporran, then there's not much 'point' in having a sgian in your hose, rounded like a butter knife. To combine the best features of both, however, you might take Downunderkilt's advice: sharp, multi-use (and pointy, too)

[BBNC]

Sorry if I came across a bit strong in that last post, no offense intended to anyone. Anyway, while digging into Rab's website a little deeper, the damascus I ordered was apparently made in Mumbai, which is a major damascus producing area. I'll find out the quality of steel when I sharpen and test it, but that will be the final step, of course.

There is an old method of testing the edge-holding ability of a blade...cutting cardboard. The longer it cuts before dulling, the better.