Sgian Dubh Question(s)

[Riverkilt]

Last night a friend gave me a belated birthday gift at a party. She'd taken the trouble to stop at Arizona Kilts and buy me a Sgian Dubh made by the Sgian Dubh company in Ayrshire, Scotland.

I was quite overwhelmed on a number of fronts. First, I had no idea she'd any clue about things Scottish. Second, she's met Graeme and Jackie and I still can't drive down from Page to Scotsdale on Saturdays before their store closes, and third, I did not yet own an "official" sgain dubh.

Its wood handle with carved knotwork on one side and a carving of a Scotish gent on the other. It seemed one I might pick for myself.

When I got home and looked at it I saw the blade wasn't just dull, its flat. As if I should go have it ground to a blade myself if I want a sharp edge. Do all sgain dubh's come dull? This one actually had a little sticker attached that read, "WARNING This product contains a sharp blade and should be used with care." (Do lawyers run the world or what!?) But this one isn't sharp, its not even dull, its just flat where there should be a cutting edge.

And, the blade goes into the handle at a weird angle so that its about five or ten degrees off line. Are sgian dubhs purposely made like that so the handle sticks out for easier grasping? Tried to straighten it by hand and of course the metal in hard wood prevents that.

So, hope this is within the new posting guidelines....I would sure appreciate some basic info from those more into sgian dubhs than I.

I know, its the thought that counts and I can stuff it almost all the way down my kilt hose anyway...

No model number and can't find it on either the Arizona Kilts or the Sgian Dubh company websites.

Thanks,

Ron