It came to my attention (by way opinion of a very bonnie Scottish lass drinking with me) that the Irish wear an small axe down the hose instead of the skien dubh. Never have I heard of this so I did some net searching and have only sourced that the Irish hired Scottish mercenaries during the C13-14 called the Galloglaich. These warriors favourd a 6 foot handled axe now termed a sparth:

This image seemed the most true to the description as the hook was used to dismount cavalry. Nasty and effective. But Down your sock?
Anyone know about this at all?
Erin