New Cold Steel "Sgian"

**CMcG** · 28th March 12, 09:15 PM

I just stumbled upon this new knife from Cold Steel called the "Secret Edge." It is billed as an ultra-slim, feather light, neck knife, with a design based on the sgian dubh. This follows in the pattern of other sgian-like knives they've produced in the past: Culloden, Mini-Culloden, Braveheart, etc.

Has anyone seen and/or handled one of these in real life?

http://www.coldsteel.com/secretedge.html

**Zardoz** · 28th March 12, 11:01 PM

Looks pretty nice, I'm gonna look for that at the next show I go to.

**CMcG** · 28th March 12, 11:26 PM

I just realized Cold Steel has also released series of a new sgian-esque folders too: the "Hold Out."

http://www.coldsteel.com/hold-out-series.html

Personally, I think it is pretty cool that this company has given us so many modernized versions of our beloved sgian dubh. Here are some of the older iterations:

**Zardoz** · 28th March 12, 11:40 PM

This is a Cold Steel "Spike" self defense/hide-out knife. They have a series of these knives styled after various traditional blade forms from around the world, this is the "Scottish Spike" pattern.

It is shaped from 420 solid steel, 7/32 of an inch thick. The 3.5 inch blade is distal tapered and flat ground to a zero edge. For a fat narrow blade, it has some good cutting power, and is very strong. Quite a package for a 2.5 ounce, $30 knife.

Here's a comparison to one of my 'typical' Sgians;

Not fancy, but a good useful everyday carry.

About my only issue with the Spike was the "Secure-Ex" sheath it comes with, it's made to retain the knife hanging on your gear, or on a neck lanyard, so it covers a lot of the handle, and it's not so great in the sock. I originally modified the plastic sheath, but have since made up a leather one that works fine.

**J_Mimbs** · 29th March 12, 07:35 AM

I have an old "Braveheart" model from Cold Steel. I don't usually carry it as a sgian, but it works fine when I do. That Secret Edge looks nice too.

**Dale Seago** · 29th March 12, 08:18 AM

Looks like a decent replacement for the Mini-Culloden.

**CMcG** · 29th March 12, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Dale Seago

Looks like a decent replacement for the Mini-Culloden.

It's really a shame that they stopped making that one. I liked how the handle had a slightly more traditionally looking profile...

**Ryan Ross** · 29th March 12, 09:29 AM

Years ago, at the Blade Show, I told Lynn Thompson that they needed to realase a regular production version of the Caledonian Edge, and he himmed and hawed. Fastforward to last year, and they're giving us the Hold-out series.

Hmm...

**CMcG** · 29th March 12, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

Years ago, at the Blade Show, I told Lynn Thompson that they needed to realase a regular production version of the Caledonian Edge, and he himmed and hawed. Fastforward to last year, and they're giving us the Hold-out series.

Hmm...

Better late than never, eh?

I'm really liking the look of the Hold Out III (3" blade). It is apparently really slim and light, which would make it a decent everyday carry (EDC)... I usually have some sort of pocket knife on me and with this one, I could still have a sgian, even without kilt hose to tuck it into!

**Geoff Withnell** · 30th March 12, 07:01 AM

Being a knife collector, I have a Hold Out III, the Braveheart, and the Scottish Spike. I have a Secret Edge on order, supposed to arrive Tuesday, I will review it then. As for the others:

The Hold Out III is a nice knife, not really suited for in the hose wear, being a folder. My only issue is it is VERY stiff to open, even with the assist stud. I'm not the only person to note this.

The Scottish Spike has a very wedge shaped cross section to the blade, probably to give some stiffness to the long narrow blade. I have had no issues carrying it in my hose in the supplied sheath, it ends up riding with just a bit of the wrapped hilt and stainless butt showing, which imho, looks fairly well.

The braveheart is the most classic in form. The hilt is a high tech plastic, but feels well in the hand. The sheath is a complete waste for hose carry, I had a leather sheath made and I am much happier with it.

All the Cold Steel "Scottish" knives are EXTREMELY sharp, both in point and edge, and are real, no kidding, working knives - the only kind of knife I own.
All these versions are still shown as available on their website.

I also own a Cold Steel FGX Skean Dhu which is a fiberglass reinforced plastic. It's relatively cheap ($13) so I got it. Does not come with a sheath, the FGX series is designed as a concealed neck, or such weapon. Not nearly as sharp as the steel versions, but that's like saying not wet as the ocean. I've used it to slice luncheon meat, and cut open cardboard boxes, so it is a working knife. I got a leather sheath for it and the same time I got one for the Braveheart, which it strongly resembles in form. I would NOT recommend trying to wear it through a TSA checkpoint, even though it won't show up on metal detectors, as I have seen suggested elsewhere. Those guys have zero sense of humor.