New sgian (with pics)...

**Ryan Ross** · 4th June 08, 06:14 PM

I picked this up from J. Michael McRae, at the Atlanta Blade show.

I'm really fond of it. It's quite simple and functional and fits well in the hand, which is what I was looking for. The blade is hand forged 1095, and it's differentially hardened (you can even see a very faint hamon-looking line, though not in the pictures I took). It came with a very nice edge on it, and I suspect that it should keep well. The handle is Rosewood, and the fittings and cablework are nickle silver.

J. Michael McRae's site is www.scotiametalwork.com by the way.

Note: Sorry about the pictures... I couldn't see the fuzzies on the blade until the flash went off.

PS. That's Matt's fine stitchery, in the background.

**Rogerson785** · 4th June 08, 06:18 PM

I have visited his web site before, nice selection and looks like a nice addition to your kilted wardrobe.

Cheers
Chris

**KGCTJ** · 4th June 08, 08:03 PM

nice cablework but what is that white stuff?
He has beautiful knifes
and expensive basket hilts to drool over

**ardchoille** · 4th June 08, 08:34 PM

That is a fine sgian.. and I really lke the shape of that handle.

**Ryan Ross** · 5th June 08, 06:43 AM

Originally Posted by KGCTJ

nice cablework but what is that white stuff?
He has beautiful knifes
and expensive basket hilts to drool over

Which white stuff are we talking about? If you mean the fitting and decoration, it's nickle silver.

His basket hilts are amazing. I held one at the Blade show, and it felt extremely lively, much like some of the antiques I've handled before... and nothing like most of the modern renderings out there.

Originally Posted by ardchoille

That is a fine sgian.. and I really lke the shape of that handle.

Yep, that was one of the things I was looking for... a handle that fits the hand well and is comfortable when the knife is in use.

**Streetcar** · 5th June 08, 08:49 AM

I've been eyeing his site for awhile now, waiting for the "right" sgian to be available. I'd be interested to know how it holds up as a functional knife.

**Ryan Ross** · 5th June 08, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Streetcar

I've been eyeing his site for awhile now, waiting for the "right" sgian to be available. I'd be interested to know how it holds up as a functional knife.

I'll be sure to let you know... a functional knife was my biggest requirement for a sgian, so I have high hopes for this one.

**CelticRanger66** · 5th June 08, 02:46 PM

Really nice sgian! I like to have functional sgians also the come in real handy!

**James MacMillan** · 6th June 08, 09:36 AM

I've had a few of his blades in my hand, but they really didn't sing to me. They are nice, but to me, the blade must fit.

That's why I don't like to order blades without first being able to hold them.

I'm glad you like it! If you didn't like it, it would just hide in a drawer somewhere and that's a shame!

Congratulations

**Ryan Ross** · 6th June 08, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by James MacMillan

I've had a few of his blades in my hand, but they really didn't sing to me. They are nice, but to me, the blade must fit.

That's why I don't like to order blades without first being able to hold them.

I'm glad you like it! If you didn't like it, it would just hide in a drawer somewhere and that's a shame!

Congratulations

To be honest, he had quite a few sgians at his table -probably 6 to 8- and I handled all of them. This one is the one that really felt best to me. It has good balance in the hand and the handle is quite comfortable. I also liked the way that the silver cable work acts as a manual cue as to what direction the blade is in.

I'm very pleased with it and I'm sure it will see plenty of use... I already find myself wanting to wear hose more often (as opposed to the sandals and no hose that I usually wear in the summer), just so I have a good excuse to carry the new sgian.