Culhane Custom Made Knives

Sgian-dubh made for an ex-piper of the Light Horse Regimental Band. During the nineteen seventies and eighties the Light Horse Regiment arguably had one of the best military bands in the country. During this time, then Major Roe decided that he’d like to add pipes and drums, the nucleus of which was formed from the then Johannesburg Caledonian Society’s pipe band wearing the Cameron of Eracht tartan.

Ladies push dagger with an OAL of 110mm and a 60mm blade. The knife has a nickel silver bolster and pins and a Raffir mammoth molar handle. Stewart Clan crest attached to the handle. The sheath is designed to be worn around the neck.

A part of the knife making process seldom photographed, wet forming the knives to their sheaths.

5 Clip point Bowie style knives made to order from Lohmann LO-R 4528 steel with brass guards and pins. Handles are (from top to bottom) camphor, red/pink dyed and stabilised Poplar, purple dyed and stabilised Poplar, Tambotie and Skunkbush. Names blurred for privacy.

Currently on the workbench

Sunset over the workshop this evening

WIP, Santoku with an OAL of 330mm with a 200mm blade. Brass bolster and Haakdoring Burl handle with the completed version below

Liner lock biltong knife with an OAL of 160mm with 65mm blade. African Blackwood handle and nickel silver bolster.

Work in progress, liner lock biltong knife taking shape.

Three liner lock biltong knives recently delivered. Knives have an OAL of 160mm with 65mm blades. From top to bottom, handles are haakdoring burl, hairy vitex and skunkbush burl. Recipients names are blurred for privacy.

Highly personalised Regimental Pattern sgian-dubh with the badges of all of the clients units that he has served in, (Transvaal Scottish, South African Irish, Light Infantry and British South Africa Police) acid etched onto the blade. Recipient’s personal details blurred for privacy.

Regimental pattern sgian-dubh made for a member of the pipe band of The Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment (Canada), unable to source the badge for the handle locally, the customer will fit it when he receives the sgian-dubh. The recipient’s personal details blurred for privacy.

Just completed, Bowie style clip point using CPM Magnacut. OAL of 285mm with nickel silver guard and a pepper burl and resin handle.

Two regimental pattern sgian-dubhs recently completed. The first is a very special one made for a SADF veteran awarded the Honoris Crux during the bush war. The sgian-dubh has the ribbon of the medal as part of the handle material with a miniature of the medal mounted over the ribbon. The blade is numbered with the recipient’s actual medal number and an etching of the medal on one side and the recipient’s details (name, rank, number and post nominal titles) on the other.
The second one has been made for a veteran from the First Battalion, Transvaal Scottish Regiment.

Work in progress, Dirk made to customer’s specs with a 14” blade. Handle is leadwood with brass studs. Final version will have nickel bronze fittings with a “targe” like design on the pommel

Set of five Transvaal Scottish Regimental pattern sgian-dubhs made for a family of veteran brothers in the USA.