Short Irish Skean

Irish Skean or in Gaelic the Scian, was THE fighting dagger of Irish warriors, particularly the Kern and the Gallowglass. 15th, 16th and 17th Centuries. They seemed to be made following two distinct patterns, the shorter being the Short Skean or Miodoga.

The Short Skean was broad bladed, single edged and formidable, with some slight faceting to the rear of the blade, but was also made and assembled in a characteristically particular way for a dagger. The grip is small and waisted with a heavy carved motif looking like a saltaire cross around the central section with brass rings top and bottom and the top ring being secured in place with steel wedges. Note that cross has the two lines offset from each other as the originals had.

The leather sheath has incised decoration and comes a long way up the grip and is terminated in a chape formed of wound copper wire, another strange feature of the originals.

The design is based heavily on the “Athlone Skean”. And if you’re interested in these knives, we thoroughly recommend ‘The Skean’ by Robert Gresh in which the Athlone Skean is featured.

Overall length 36cm/14″
Blade length 26cm/10.25”
Grip length 10cm/4”

Edge sharpness is ‘butter knife’ sharp: it has a very fine flat on the edge.

Sharp has been ground to give a reasonable cutting edge but, final honing, if required, is up to the customer.

TC142