New Officer's Model Sgian Dubh

[vmac3205]

Wow! That's a beauty. Congratulations on your new acquisition.

[Darkislander]

I like that, very smart.

[SFCRick]

very nice

[Standard]

Thanks for the kind words all, and yes I'm very pleased with the purchase.

[george7]

Opens bottles... multifunctional... it must be Alton Brown approved.

[Nick the DSM]

nice metal, man. I gotta get me one of them.

[Standard]

Opens bottles... multifunctional... it must be Alton Brown approved.

Alton loves the multitaskers so I'm betting he would approve of this sgian dubh. Now, if we could only get him into a kilt for one of his episodes.

[cavscout]

[macwilkin]

I have one of these... with clan Scott crest. Super classy and functional. And it wears really well. I wear flashes with elastic and it never moves. It is noticeably weighty... but certainly not uncomfortable. It's received more than a few compliments.

Just wondering, I bought it believing that it's modelled on an Officers Sgian Dubh from the Crimean War. Is there any truth in this? Perhaps MacMillan of Rathdown can answer?? Love your work by the way ;)

Regards,

Scotty

That discussion came up a while ago; I was under the impression it was from the Boer War.

T.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Knives with tools in the handle are almost as old as the cutlery industry. Both German and British (as well as American) trade catalogues of the 19th century show fixed-blade knives of various lengths ranging from 3 1/2-inches to 8-inches and longer, which have everything from spoons to hoof-picks in their handles. It would not be surprising if some enterprising bloke cut down a "boys knife" either as a "one off", or produced a small batch of them and marketed them as sgains dubh. On page 39 of The Scottish Dirk by James D. Forman there appears a photo (no.60) of what is described as "The relic of an uncommon sgian dubh. Picked up at the campsite where Highland soldiers assembled for embarkation to the Boer War. The hilt contains a number of rusted tools in the style of a Swiss Army knife." Hallmarks on the sheath indicate that it dates from c. 1874. He suggests that "other examples survive", but neither I nor any one else at Wilkinson Sword, Ltd. were able to find anyone to verify this. Judging from the sole photo, it appears that this may be a cut down knife in a sgian dubh sheath. Certainly the shape and narrowness of the handle would suggest that the sheath is an associated item, and probably not original to the knife itself. But it's still a cool thing.

So, was this the inspiration for the Officer Sgian Dubh? In a word, no. My original brief in designing the Officer was to create something that would have wide appeal, that would stand out from other, similar, products then currently on sale. Above all it had to be useful, something 99% of the sgians dubh aren't.

It also had to lay flat against the leg, yet provide a "meaty" enough grip that it wouldn't twist or slip in a man's hand. It also had to be "logo" or "trademark" friendly, which meant providing room for a clansman's badge on the scales.

The original name for the Officer sgian dubh was "THE TARTAN ARMY KNIFE" (a copyright trademark currently assigned by me to Schuyler, Hartley & Graham, LLC.) It was the decision of Gaelic Themes Ltd. to go with "The Officer" as they felt it was a more marketable name.

I hope that clears up any questions anyone may have about my involvement with the design of the Officer sgian dubh. As regards the historical accuracy of the marketing information-- I personally know Scott Chalmers and would have no reason to question the integrity of the information provided on the product tag with the knife. Certainly it is a "costly and complex" item to produce, and that would apply as much to the 19th century as to the 21st century. It would be the accessory of a gentleman of means, precisely the sort of individuals who would provide the "officer class" in Highland regiments. It is indeed, "an Officer's sgian dubh."