How much sgian to show?

[NewEnglander]

I don't often wear a sgian dubh, but I just picked a new one up and may now have an occasion to carry one more frequently. My question is how much of the handle to leave exposed above the top of my hose. I usually just have an inch or so out, but haven't found this to be comfortable. Suggestions? With pictures?
Thanks in advance!

[NewEnglander]

Oooh! That last post was my 500th! If only we still have ranks..

(sorry, had to feed the troll)

[piperdbh]

Enough that it's comfortable and you can get to it without having to fish around in your cuff to find it.


Ranks? What ranks?

[Tobus]

I've read before that you should be showing no more than half the handle. So that's what I do. Like this:

[Chas]

I think it all depends on the individual, the shape of their legs and how high they wear the cuffs of their hose. The bigger the calf muscle the more the handle is liable to stick out.

In the end, it has to be - enough that it can be seen, but not get in the way.

Regards

Chas

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

...if worn they need to be comfortable and allow easy access.

Now that I have your attention, gentlemen....

A lot of how much hilt should show depends on how close to the knee cap you wear you hose. If the cuff comes all the way up to the bottom of your knee cap, then only the very top of the sgian will be visible, it won't be very comfortable, and it certainly won't be easily accessible.

Most agree that the kilt looks its best if the top of the hose cuff is about 3 finger-widths below the knee cap (this will vary somewhat between individuals based on stature and type of build, but generally speaking the "3 fingers rule" works best, at least as a starting point). Coincidentally, the hilt on most sgians dubh are about "4 finger-widths" in length.

The top of the sgian dubh should more or less line up with the bottom of your knee cap. This means that if you follow the "3 finger rule" for your hose, you should have about "3 fingers" of hilt showing on your sgian dubh, with the rest comfortably tucked down your hose and held in place by your garter.

Hope that answers your question!

[NewEnglander]

As always, gentlemen, you are wealth of knowledge. I do tend to follow the 3 finger rule (for kilt hose and for measuring liquor). I think wearing the sgian as for down in the hose as I did pushes too much of its length against my leg, thus resulting in the discomfort. I'll give it a try with my new knife when I get home later today.
Slainte!

[cavscout]

I like to show as much of the handle as possible without risking it falling out. I like my sgian to be functional and there fore easy to draw and return. Many are also very ornamental so you might as well show as much of the handle as you can. To do all of this, I replaced the stock sheath with a molded sheath that will hold my top heavy sgian securely and allow me to draw and return it to the sheath without risk of slashing my hose.

[thescot]

Cavscout shows a very good method if you have a molded sheath. If you use the stock sheath, that may determine where you wear the sgian. I have to make sure that the sheath is under my garter to assure that it doesn't fall off the blade and allow me to cut my own leg. (Did that once and had to wash the blood out of my hose.)

I find that this makes the sgian pretty accessable with an inch-and-a-half or two inches showing. I sometimes have to fish the sheath out when I put it back, but I don't consider that a big deal. And I should add that I tend to carry a very flat-handled knife that is light and lays against my leg well. It has a horn handle and a sharp blade, but it's not top heavy.

[creagdhubh]

...if worn they need to be comfortable and allow easy access.

Now that I have your attention, gentlemen....

A lot of how much hilt should show depends on how close to the knee cap you wear you hose. If the cuff comes all the way up to the bottom of your knee cap, then only the very top of the sgian will be visible, it won't be very comfortable, and it certainly won't be easily accessible.

Most agree that the kilt looks its best if the top of the hose cuff is about 3 finger-widths below the knee cap (this will vary somewhat between individuals based on stature and type of build, but generally speaking the "3 fingers rule" works best, at least as a starting point). Coincidentally, the hilt on most sgians dubh are about "4 finger-widths" in length.

The top of the sgian dubh should more or less line up with the bottom of your knee cap. This means that if you follow the "3 finger rule" for your hose, you should have about "3 fingers" of hilt showing on your sgian dubh, with the rest comfortably tucked down your hose and held in place by your garter.

Hope that answers your question!

I agree with Scott, but I also tend to wear my sgian dhubh with almost the entire handle being shown (especially if the handle has some sort of ornate design (sterling silver thistle, armiger's crest, stag head, etc), as in the case my regimental style sgian dhubh that I wear with my evening attire) - this especially works very well if one follows the three finger rule for wearing hose. Obviously if I am hill walking or doing some sort of strenuous activity, I may push the sgian a bit farther down my hose. See below.

Day wear sgian dhubh with staghorn handle.


Evening wear sgian dhubh - regimental style with sterling silver thistle design on handle.


Day wear sgian dhubh - pushed down my hose a wee bit further since I was obviously hill-walking in Badenoch.


Day wear sgian dhubh.


You get the idea!

Slainte mhath,