Victorian Black Watch Officers Regimental Sgian Dubh

Victorian Black Watch Officers Regimental Skean Dhu — Victorian Black Watch Royal Highlanders Officers Regimental Sgian Dubh

We recently sourced a wonderful Victorian Black Watch officers sgian dubh made by the regimental outfitters J Christie & Sons Ltd Edinburgh ( later George V Royal warrant holder ).

In the classic form with brass thistle mounts and St Andrew ( wee Jimmy ) and and stone set with a smoky quartz cairngorm. The Black wood hilt has brass studding and St Andrews badge and leather covered scabbard.

It is thought that the bottom scabbard mount may have been replaced at some point during its service, but that is part of the sgian dubhs service history. The blade like many antique sgian dubh has some tarnish, but again this is very much a part of the sgian dubhs history.

For more details please visit the sgian dubh shop page

The Black Watch Regiment

The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd Regiment of Foot was amalgamated with the 73rd Regiment of Foot.

The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch) was amalgamated with the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot to form two battalions of the newly named Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). The 42nd became the 1st Battalion, and the 73rd became the 2nd Battalion.

The 1st Battalion saw action at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir in September 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War. It was in combat again during the Mahdist War, at the First and Second Battles of El Teb in February 1884, the Battle of Tamai in March 1884 and at the Battle of Kirbekan in February 1885.

They were stationed in India from 1896, but was sent to South Africa for service during the Second Boer War.

After the war ended in June 1902 with the Peace of Vereeniging, 630 officers and men left Cape Town on the SS Michigan in late September 1902, arriving at Southampton in late October, when they were posted to Edinburgh.

The 2nd Battalion was posted to South Africa in October 1899, following the outbreak of the Second Boer War. The battalion suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Magersfontein in December 1899.

J. Christie & Sons Limited - Edinburgh - Clothiers & Military Outfitters

The first listing we have James Christie & Sons was as a ‘Breeches Maker’ hatters, hosiers, glovers, shirt makers and outfitters at 11 St Andrews Square Edinburgh in the 1880’s.