Black Knife
Nice little useful knife Bill.
I believe the "black knife was named so, because of the colour of the hilt,...normally black wood. Nothing to say antler is wrong though!
Skian dubh was I think a small utility knife, that would be used for eating, gralloching your deer, or whatever, and that in later years was worn for display in top of the stocking (sock!.)
I read somewhere that originally they were often carried inside the waiscoat.
If you wish to duplicate this nice aged antler colour, leather dye in medium or dark brown will do a very fair job.
TC,
Shear steel is I believe a type of cast steel, much used for cutlery and saws.
Richard.
|