Photos from Nathan Bell's Collection: (Click to enlarge)



Irish Arms Irish Skean

Original: Circa Mid 16th Century, Irish

This distinctive sidearm is depicted in numerous period artworks, borne by the barbarous Irish kern. Either slung from the waist or simply hung from the neck by a lanyard. The blades of these long daggers are single-edged, narrow, and very sharply pointed. The hilts are quite simple to the point of being rudimentary. This particular piece is modeled after a skean found in the River Shannon.

This reproduction features a long narrow blade of EN45 steel, with a short unsharpened false edge. The blade has a very slight and graceful curve. The grip is of native Irish oak, and the ferrules and grip plate are of brass. The simple scabbard is of vegetable-tanned cowhide, with a short round-braided leather strap. The flat-braided rawhide lanyard was supplied by the owner.

Overall length: 28"
Weight: 1.25 pounds
Width of guard: 2"
Blade: 22.5" long; 1.25" wide tapering to ..375"
False edge length: 3"
Hilt length: 5.2"
Point of Balance (PoB): 4.75" from guard

Maker: Irish Arms of Ireland














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