Antique Scottish Edinburgh Silver 1888 Sgian Dubh
Antique Scottish Edinburgh Silver 1888 Sgian Dubh – Fine Scottish antique sgian dubh with studded black wood handle. Sterling silver mounts with a engraving and the cap mounted with a pink tone stone mount. The scabbard has engraved mounts and covered in brown leather. Blade in good used antique condition.
Our range of fine hallmarked sterling silver skean dubh’s made by the Highland regimental silversmith and Royal silversmiths Hamilton & Inches in Edinburgh, Scotland. We can engrave many of these skean dubhs for presentation gifts.
The Gaelic sgian dubh meaning “black knife”, where “black” may refer to the usual colour of the handle of the knife. It is also suggested that “black” means secret, or hidden, as in the word blackmail. This is based on the stories and theories surrounding the knife’s origin and the meaning of “Dubh” in Gaelic, in particular those associated with the Highland custom of depositing weapons at the entrance to a house prior to entering as a guest. Despite this practice, a small twin edged-dagger, (‘Mattucashlass’), concealed under the armpit, combined with a smaller knife, (‘Sgian dubh’).