Sgian dhu II

[Mike S]

I realize I'm a bit late contributing these Sgian options, however this might help anyone perusing this thread looking for a good quality alternative for use as a sgian, at a good price.

They are not traditional Sgians, but are 19th Century boot knife repros that are the right size, and would make really nice Sgians in my opinion. They are made from quality materials, and feature nice Solingen German blades as well:

[David Thornton]

How about this boot knife as a sgian? I am thinking about iusing this as the basis for my dress sgian. Probably will have a damascus blade. Might go with a burled handle, dark, haven't decided on species.
Any other thoughts?

http://www.bladesmith.co.uk/image_gallery_page_2.html

David

[Iolaus]

How about this boot knife as a sgian? I am thinking about iusing this as the basis for my dress sgian. Probably will have a damascus blade. Might go with a burled handle, dark, haven't decided on species.
Any other thoughts?

http://www.bladesmith.co.uk/image_gallery_page_2.html

David

The fact that it's a double edge might be a problem, but I think it's an awesome looking knife.

[Mike S]

David,
That would make an exceptional looking, modern Sgian. It looks very well made and of quality materials too. I'd certainly wear one, and if need be, you could grind the left edges down slightly (fortunately it has a very shallow edge, so we aren't talking about removing a lot of metal, or distorting the shape of the blade) to eliminate the double edged element and make it "street legal".

[David Thornton]

Got email today, we are in negotiations to use this as a platform for a sgian!
David

[Iolaus]

Got email today, we are in negotiations to use this as a platform for a sgian!
David

Damascus? Might there be a discount for a multiple unit order?

[Joe Gondek]

David
Good looking blade.
I'm glad to see you found something that will work for you.

[Mike S]

Hey David,
It goes without saying (even though I'm saying it!), do post some photos of the Sgian Dubh when you get it! Congratulations by the way.

[Mike S]

Here is a link to yet another source for handmade, lovely dirks and sgian dubhs by a fellow MacRae no less. It's called Scotia Metalworks:
http://www.scotiametalwork.com/index.html
Cheers.

[Caradoc]

Nearly every state forbids the public carry of double edged blades, even swag or false edged ones as found on the typical Highland Dirk. The reason being that these types of blades are in reality meant for one thing and one thing only, hand to hand combat (the double edge is designed for deadly efficient thrusting of the weapon).

Highland games etc. aren't usually policed with such scrutiny however, as one typically finds all kinds of weapons that would typically be considered a no no for public display/carry, such as Broadswords, dirks, Lochabers, Claymores, spiked targes etc. Some sympathy must be felt by the police, after all, don't most major police agencies have their own pipebands?

Arizona doesn't have any of those laws about double edges.

Being pulled over by the local police for a perceived traffic violation (after discussing it with the officer, he agreed that he was wrong, and thanked me very much for it) with a Lochaber axe belted into the passenger seat was quite an experience.

Important note: If you're "dressed funny," keep both hands on the steering wheel if you're pulled over, and do nothing without the officer's say-so. They get very uncomfortable when they can see three weapons, and don't know what they can't see.

I had a dirk, Dalcassian axe, and Lochaber axe in reasonably plain sight (and a sgian ochles not in plain sight) and he was a bit nervous.

"Sir, do you know why I pulled you ov.... what the hell do you have in your passenger seat?"

I've got a sgian dubh, antler-handled, very plain, but perfectly functional. It's in a nice carbon steel (stainless is... icky for functional tools) and is perfectly sized for a two-fingers-on-the-handle, thumb-on-the-jimping grip that gives me good point and edge control for carving wooden camp tools, trap triggers, cutting fishing line, etc.