A different sytle of sgain dubh?

[Drac]

Thanks for the examples. I'll have to see how this goes to see if I can make something that can have a full tang and still be good enough for evening wear.

Shaun, just because a knife is good looking doesn't mean it can't be used. My own knife making philosophy is that if it doesn't cut anything it's not a knife. A well built knife can look good or even beautiful.

Jim

[ShaunMaxwell]

Jim, I agree with your remarks... My point was that this particular knife was intended for utilitarian purposes, and wouldn't be something for evening wear... Though it's very functional.

Looking forward to see what you come up with.

SM

[Drac]

Sorry. A bit of a pet peeve of mine that gets the better of me. I've made knives and been told "It's to pretty to use." I made a striking/marking knife for my father-in-law with wood from the USS Constitution (he's former Navy) and the first thing he said is that it wasn't going down to the shop.

Jim

[CMcG]

<snip>
Would you guys buy a sgain dubh with a full tang or would you pass it by?

<snip>
My own knife making philosophy is that if it doesn't cut anything it's not a knife. A well built knife can look good or even beautiful.

I would definitely prefer a sgian with a full tang and I agree that knives should be able to cut; if there's no edge, it's a letter opener! With the right materials, fancy bolsters, decorative file-work, etc a full tang sgian could surely be suitable for evening wear. Drac, do you have a website?

My compromise was to find a sgian with a full length tang, even though it isn't full width. Better than a blunt edge, plastic handle, sgian with a half-length, half-width tang

Here's mine, made by Hanwei. The purple cut glass is gaudy but it matches the purple stone on my dad's old kilt pin:

[CMcG]

I did some Googling and found a few full tang sgians by knife maker Stuart Mitchell. They are solid looking knives but not really very dressy...



With a matching dirk:



Under the name of his father, Pat Mitchell. I think this one needs some jimping.

[CMcG]

Here's another full tang from PPS knives:


And one from Brian Lyttle:

[auld argonian]

I'll always take a full tang knife over the alternative

The choice of material and the degree of ornamentation on the grip would determine whether it's dress or casual.

Best

AA

[BoldHighlander]

I did some Googling and found a few full tang sgians by knife maker Stuart Mitchell. They are solid looking knives but not really very dressy...

I really like this one, very workman-like, however I couldn't find it on the website....in fact I had problems getting the links to work to see any of his knives

[CMcG]

I really like this one, very workman-like, however I couldn't find it on the website....in fact I had problems getting the links to work to see any of his knives

I found that image on a knife forum:
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...The-Definitive

As for Stuart's website, roll your mouse over where it says "Custom Knives" to create a drop-down menu, then click on one of the numbers. No sgians in there but some nice blades nonetheless.

Or just PM to the OP seeing as he is working on a full tang sgian

[sydnie7]

The coral's a bit busy for my tastes but the mammoth tooth is fascinating! As for the walrus unmentionable, well, whatever floats yer boat (or "flips yer skirt") as the saying goes.