Scottish Dirk with Ebony Hilt and Thistle Engravings

• Nickel Silver - Nickel silver is a metal alloy made from copper, nickel, and zinc. Despite its name, it does not contain any silver. It was developed in the early 19th century in Germany as a less expensive alternative to silver, and it quickly gained popularity as a material for tableware, jewellery, and other decorative objects.
  
  Nickel silver has a similar appearance to silver, with a bright, shiny surface that can be polished to a high lustre. It is also resistant to tarnish and corrosion, making it a durable material for long-lasting items. It is commonly used in the manufacturing of musical instruments such as flutes, saxophones, and clarinets, due to its acoustic properties. It is also used in the production of silverware, jewellery, and watch components, as an affordable alternative to precious metals like silver and gold.
• Ebony - Ebony is a close grained timber, black in colour. It has a fine texture which can be polished to a high gloss, making it suitable for venereering, inlay and stringing and its use as solid timber is resticted to small decorative items and ornamental decoration, such as chess pieces and musical instrument parts. The term "ebonised" means "faux ebony", timber that has been darkened during the polishing process to resemble ebony.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• edged weapons, other - Scottish dirk and skean dhu 42