NATURE OF THE BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
BNS Liquidating Trust (BNS Liquidating Trust)
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership [Line Items]
Ownership (as a percent)	84.90%		84.90%
DGT Holdings Corp. (DGT)
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership [Line Items]
Ownership (as a percent)	82.70%	[1]	76.70%	[1]
Handy & Harman Ltd. (HNH)
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership [Line Items]
Ownership (as a percent)	66.10%		54.90%
SPH Services, Inc. (SPH Services)
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership [Line Items]
Ownership (as a percent)	100.00%		100.00%
Steel Excel Inc. (Steel Excel)
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership [Line Items]
Ownership (as a percent)	57.90%		55.10%
WebFinancial Holding Corporation (WebFinancial)
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership [Line Items]
Ownership (as a percent)	100.00%		100.00%

[1] DGT’s financial statements are recorded on a two-month lag, and as a result, the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Operations as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes DGT’s activity as of and for its three and nine months ended July 31, 2014.