The Irish Skean was the traditional fighting knife of Ireland until at least 1700 and I was inspired to make some from reading ‘The Skean’ by Robert Gresh simply because they are so strange and unusual and frankly because in 30 years of making knives I haven’t made one of these. Whilst talking to Robert he asked if I could make a Tod Cutler version and here we are. Find the Tod Cutler skeans here:
Skean Fada (Long Skean): https://todcutler.com/products/long-irish-skean?_pos=1&_psq=long+irish&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Miodag (Short Skean): https://todcutler.com/products/short-irish-skean?_pos=1&_psq=irish+skean&_ss=e&_v=1.0
The knives are big. The blades are broad and thick and in the case of the long skean, could be very long indeed up to 55cm/22″. The handles are intricately carved and fitted together in a very curious way…..
Since becoming interested in these knives I found an even earlier reference to an ‘Irysshknyff’ being used in a murder in London in 1325. Perhaps an early skean?
The word Skean is actually an anglicised version of Scian, but I have followed the book title to save confusion.
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The Skean by Robert Gresh ISBN 9780764366376
Credit to : Tod’s Workshop