Editing Sgian-dubh (section)

==Construction==
[[File:Skean.jpg|thumb|Selection of sgian-dubhs]]
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
The early blades varied in construction, some having a "clipped" (famously found on the [[Bowie knife]]) or "drop" point. The "spear-point" tip has now become universal. The earliest known blades, some housed in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, are made from German or Scandinavian steel, which was highly prized by the Highlanders. Scalloped filework on the back of the blade is common on all Scottish knives. A short blade of {{convert|3|to|3.5|in|cm|round=0.5}} is typical.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}

Traditionally the [[scabbard]] is made of leather reinforced with wood and fitted with mounts of silver or some other metal which may be cast or engraved with designs ranging from Scottish thistles, [[Celtic knotwork]], or heraldic elements such as a crest. While this makes for more popular and expensive knives, the sheath is hidden from view in the stocking while the {{lang|gd|sgian-dubh}} is worn. The sheaths of many modern sgian-dubhs are made of plastic mounted with less expensive metal fittings.

Since the modern {{lang|gd|sgian-dubh}} is worn mainly as a ceremonial item of dress and is usually not employed for cutting food or [[self-defense|self-defence]], blades are often of a simple construction. These are typically made from [[stainless steel]]. The hilts used on many modern sgian-dubhs are made of plastic that has been molded to resemble carved wood and fitted with cast metal mounts and synthetic decorative stones. Some are not even knives at all, but a plastic handle and sheath cast as one piece. Other examples are luxurious and expensive [[art]] pieces, with hand-carved [[ebony]] or [[bog wood]] hilts, sterling [[silver]] fittings and may have pommels set with genuine [[Smoky quartz|cairngorm]] stones and blades of [[Damascus steel]] or etched with Celtic designs or heraldic motifs.