Sgian Dubh Collections

[James MacMillan]

Having served 33 years in the Marine Corps, I guess you could call me a pretty martial kind of person. I have a plethora of weapons of many forms. Recently a nice combination of events has caused my personal collection of Sgians Dubh to grow.

Below is my current collection:



Numbering from left to right they are:

#1 Columbia River Knife and Tool’s Carson Design F4-02.
#2 Original Hand-Made by me, antler handle, blade made from jeep leaf spring. Eastern White tail deer, shot by me in 1962. Nicle and brass butt.
#3 Original Hand-Made by a member of this forum, Antler handle, Atlanta Cutlery Damascus Sgian Dubh blade. Western Mule deer, shot by me in 1977.
#4 Original Hand-Made by Thomas Acuna in Hawaii, Stainless blade, Koa wood handle. Koa wood harvested from fallen tree branch on island of Mauii 1984, Brass findings.
#5 Original Hand-Made by Mr Woolery received in a trade for a SWK Blackwatch Standard, Hand ground blade, and Caribou horn handle. I’ll do a complete review of this knife soon.
#6 Original Hand-Made by a member of this forum, Antler handle, Atlanta Cutlery standard Sgian Dubh blade. Mexican deer shot in Loredo 2005.
#7 Original Hand-Made by Hosé Jimenez in Guadalajara, Fighting Toro horn handle, hand-forged blade, bronze findings. Bull fought by Matador Eulalio Lopez, “El Zotoluco” 14 March 2004, Seville, Spain. El Zotoluco was awarded the ears, tail and horns!
#8 Cheapo Sgian Dubh, unknown/forgotten source, composite handle, stainless blade.

Let’s see your Sgian Dubh collections.

[Monkey@Arms]

Wow, very nice. Its great that you've been able incorporate so many personal touches in your collection.

Best regards,

Jake

[James MacMillan]

Wow, very nice. Its great that you've been able incorporate so many personal touches in your collection.

Best regards,

Jake

Thanks - All of the blades are perfectly usable! Numbers 2 through 7 hold special significance and are a joy to carry and use. I haven't carried #8 for several years and #1 seems without a soul (that only makes sense to a knife user!)

[Colin]

Here are two that were recently made for me by Panache.



The sgian brew came in handy this past weekend as it opened a few bottles of Belhaven Scottish Ale and St. Andrew's Ale.

I also have a fairly nice dress sgian dugh at home.

[McMurdo]

Here is my meager sgian dubh collection, the antler one is from the sgian dubh company, the hand-carved hound is from Raptor in Australia and the "dress" one is an ebay buy that cost me all of $4.00, I hope to get a nicer dress sgian for next Burns night.









Close ups of the day wear blades side by side



I do have other knives I just don't classify them as sgian dubh's.

[beloitpiper]

James, I LOVE #2. That is gorgeous. Right now I only have one sgian dubh. It's a cheap one and it's served every purposed I've needed it for, but I'm thinking of getting an antler handle one.

[James MacMillan]

McMurdo - Nice blades. Are you left handed? The antler handle one seems made for the left hand.

James, I LOVE #2. That is gorgeous. Right now I only have one sgian dubh. It's a cheap one and it's served every purposed I've needed it for, but I'm thinking of getting an antler handle one.

Flattery, flattery! I love it! #2 is my oldest and was my only for the first three years of my kilt wear. I made it in 1969 in the hobby shop at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The Antler handle was from my 8th deer, if I have the count right. It is close to my personal favorite.

But #3, 5 and 6 are much better made. #5 and 6 are current favorites because of their story and the way that they fit my hand. They (3,5 & 6) don’t photograph well – they look much prettier in your hand.

I really don't have a "dress" sgian dubh, as the idea seems frivolous, and I think many of these look just fine for evening wear.

Thanks again!

[pipesndrumsnun]

Very nice collections, one and all!

[Panache]

Two home made "sgian don'ts" (that I wear about 90%) and my simple, yet elegant ox horn dress sgian dubh from Mr. Matt Newsome at the Scottish Tartan's Museum (it was surprisingly affordable)



My first attempt at a deer horn sgian dubh, I've gotten better since then but I still like it and it matches the buttons on my Freelander Sporran and my KiltGoodies antler pin very nicely.




Cheers

Jamie

[James MacMillan]

Jamie - I like that Ox horn! That's about as dressy a sgian dubh, as I think I ever would own. Elegant, but usable.