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Sgian dubh displaying a carved wooden basketweave handle set with silver studs, the lower mount engraved with an interlinked chain decoration. The pommel is set with an open claw mount enclosing a faceted smoky quartz. The steel blade has a scalloped back edge and single fuller.
The leather covered wooden scabbard is decorated with silver Celtic knotwork mounts, the top with a shield-shaped cartouche engraved with the crest [stag] and motto [JE SUIS PREST] for clan Fraser. Unusually, the leather has been decorated with an edging of small circles to the front and back.
The reverse is hallmarked Edinburgh, sterling silver, 1907, together with the maker’s mark ‘C.D’ and the town mark for Inverness ‘INVss’ and the camel.
Charles Doherty was born in Edinburgh in 1859. By 1904/5 he is recorded as working in Inverness as watchmaker and jeweller. Inverness Museum and Art Gallery hold a pair of shoe buckles with his mark.
Condition:
Due to the age of the item the original steel blade shows some natural toning and discoloration.
Dimensions:
Blade length 8.5cm
Overall length 19cm
Maximum width 3.2cm