Excellent explanation on the shear steel Spiral! I was wondering more on that as it was mentioned, and yours was exactly the kind of info I was hoping for.
This definitely eliminates my visual of using old scissor blades!
I reviewing the thread I must agree with David, Lemmy's sgian dubh is indeed a beautiful example!!! These intriguing knives are definitely now on my Christmas list!
The 'dhub' in the term as noted denotes black or dark, and has more to do with the term dark in the 'hidden' connotation as 'in darkness'. These small daggers were apparantly often worn near the pit of the arm in a small sheath, and as a mark of good faith were typically moved to the stocking in plain view when in good company. Eventually during the 'Romantic Period' of Victorian times, the sgian dubh became a standard element of Scottish regalia worn in the stocking.
It is true that the extremely dark bogwood or other dark wood was often used in the hilts of these, and these were mostly for dress or more formal wear. The antlers or lighter hilts I understand were considered more for utility or day wear.
While on the topic of wood used for Scottish hilts, I am curious whether the 'dudgeon' wood that became descriptive in reference to a particular type of Scottish dagger or knife might have also found use in these. The different terms for these woods is puzzling, and I believe boxwood is another term for the dudgeon.
Best regards,
Jim