Correct wearing of Sgian Dubh

[JRB]

I'm a lefty an unashamedly carry it in my LEFT hose/garter. I use my sgian dhu at Highland games quite often. When I am eating outdoor vendor food, it works better than a plastic knife. I also use it to cut duct tape, which I use for various purposes at Highland games. To unsheathe, I pull the entire thing from my hose and then yank the knife from the sheathe. No big deal.

Being a lefty, I wear my sgian dubh in my left hose as well. And I also always pull the entire knife/sheath out when I use it. If I didn't do that I'd be afraid of accidentally cutting my hose. I like to have at least 1 1/2" sticking out above my hose top so I can get to it easily.

[James MacMillan]

I almost always wear a sgian dubh. I have gathered a nice selection and all are usable sharp tools. The measurements vary from the long of 7 1/2" to the short of 5 1/2". I tend to have a good half of the handle sticking out of my right hose top, but that is because I am right handed. I hold no superstition to needing to draw blood when the blade is drawn. I often show off my fancier blades to those interested.

When the blade is drawn I have never cut a hose top – you think you would, but I never have. When I replace it, I retrieve the sheath which remains in the hose top, sheath the blade and then slide it back into the hose top.

You can spend as much and as little as you want on a sgian dubh. Even the cheaper ones, tend to have a nice blade needing only to be sharpened. I would not try for much under $40.00 for a usable blade.

You can spend hours (and I have!) on the net looking for google results of various permutations of sgian dubh and other likely usable small knives. My current favorites were all hand made. But I also am always on the look-out for a nice addition to my modest collection.

[Standard]

Thanks all, keep the comments coming, you all always have such interesting advise to offer.

[The Kilted Reverend]

I am a newbie here so I don't know about all the rules but I think your comfort and preferences are the best guide.

TKR

[Howard Clark]

I have several. The shortest blades is just under three inches, done that way purposefully to get under the three inch restriction in the Iowa code re: carrying knives. The longest one has a bit under five inches of blade, and one must be sort of careful about wearing that one about. Some places, it just wouldn't do.

I'd think for the budget of $150, you should be able to get a real decent, real knife, that also looks pretty nice.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

US$ 150. He can get a fantastic knife! Look around at the vendors on this site, check out ebay, google "sgian dubh", and so on. Avoid the cheap damascus sgian dubh on eBay that looks like this:


It's Chinese and looks as if it was designed by Maoris, not Scots.

You should be able to find a nice knife for that price.

[jmercier]

I should seriously start making and selling some sgian dubhs for people here. I'm constantly seeing people having the same problem, trying to find a quality useable carbon steel bladed sgian dubh. I've purchased a fair number of "cheap" sgian dubh mostly out of curiosity and without exception, between 8 different sgian dubh, they've had blades that were made out of low carbon or un-hardened steel. Most of the damascus blades are made from a low carbon combination, leaving them unsuitable for a good edge. And all of them have had stick tangs both too small and too short for the blade, meaning if you were to attempt to do any sort of heavier use, you've got a stress riser at the corner of the blade and the tang just waiting to break.

In general I've been very unhappy with anything for sale on the mass market. I make my own sgian dubh, hand forged from tool steel in my shop. I dont have a forging press or power hammer, so I dont do much damascus, mostly just using 1095, 1084, O1, W2, and 5160 steels. I was up at the New Hampshire highland games last year and the lack of any custom knife makers suprised me... As did the utter junk that people were paying 80 - 100$ for in a sgian dubh.

You can have a very ornate blade that doesnt look "flashy" A subdued beauty is better in my opinion anyways, nice filework, a good handle material with some classy carving, a blade with a nice active hammon, and other things add a lot of beauty to a blade that doesnt have to stick out of the top of your hose and say "I'M A FAKE GLASS GEM LOOK AT ME!"

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

Watch out, Caulfield leather received a warning about advertising. Although, I did send you a private message about this.

I am always on the lookout for an interesting sgian dubh.

Sure, there are rubbish knives out there, but it depends on your price point. Standard should look into a good custom knife. Although, I am not sure if that is where he is ready to go.

Whatever the case, there are a lot of good options, especially if he is willing to spend US$150.

[Avonlea22]

They're supplied (as many are) without an edge, something you or a pro can add for little time and cost.

I bought mine from the Tartan Museum as well. I'm curious where you would look to find someone who could put a sharpened edge on the knife? Where in the yellow pages would you look?

[Panache]

I bought mine from the Tartan Museum as well. I'm curious where you would look to find someone who could put a sharpened edge on the knife? Where in the yellow pages would you look?

Knives/Cutlery would be the best bet.

There was a mall store chain that sold knives that did sharpening as well. Failing that I imagine that asking at a high end cooking store (think Sur la table) the staff should be able to direct you. There is a small knife/gift shop that I patronize that have put edges on all the Atlanta Cutlery blades for my sgian dubhs.

Cheers

Jamie