Use of brass

[Drac]

Evening all,

In the custom knife field brass has a bad reputation. A old phrase is "brass has no class." Besides being it is very easy to finish (compared to steel), amazingly easy to scratch, easy to tarnish and normally only used by nubs.

In the kilt world though it seems to be the other way around. Brass is evening/dress and silver tones are day/casual.

So what would you guys think of one of my sqian dubh with brass bolsters? Outside of there would be a thin silver strip down the middle from the tang.

Jim

[ScottyB]

Personally I love brass on knives and I've been a collector for years. It's classic. I think your idea would be a hit.

[Dale Seago]

In the kilt world though. . .Brass is evening/dress and silver tones are day/casual.

It's the other way 'round.

I happen to like brass on knives, too.

[Downunder Kilt]

If you look at the "Officer" sgian dubh from Gaelic Themes it has brass embellishments, which I personally think looks great, but I am biased as I have one ( It is available from several of the forums sponsor vendors)

[Eleazar]

This sounds great to me.

[CMcG]

<snip>
In the kilt world though it seems to be the other way around. Brass is evening/dress and silver tones are day/casual.

It's the other way 'round.

<snip>

The Kilkenny jacket usually has brass buttons and was created as an Irish equivalent to the Argyle with it's silver buttons; both can be for day or evening wear...

Some people wear gold coloured cantles, jacket buttons, and/or waistplates in the evening, so brass would not be out of place with them...

Either way, I think the way brass is used on a sgian would determine whether it would be more at home in the day or evening. Fancy shape, file work, choice of wood might make it better for evening vs. a simple design might be better for daywear.

What do you have in mind Drac?

[Drac]

Just getting a feel. Right now I don't even have brass at home but if I do some more of these I will run into people who have brass sets, belts, cantles, etc.

Definately handle materials will make a big differance in day/night use. A nice piece of black ebony seems (to me at least) to demand night wear vs. stag would (again to me) be more of a day wear. Also doing things like leaving off the rear bolster would make it more for day wear.