Flashes &sgian duhn questions

[knotty]

The only time Ive worn flashes is part of my Scouting uniform.

What is the feeling about wearing flashes? Is it away to "complete the look"? Is it away to add more color?

What is the feeling about wearing a sgian duhn? Are there any legal issues about wearing one?


sanx
Craig

[cable scot]

I almost always wear flashes or garter ties. I do feel it gives me a chance to compilment or contrast a piece or all of my outfit. As for a sgian dubh I don't wear one at the airport or other places where it woult cause me or others hassle(the TSA has had issue with my safety sgian dubh on more than one occasion)

[Ryan Ross]

While wearing garters is a must, as hose will tend to work their way south without them, wearing garter tabs or flashes is certainly just a way to add a bit more color or visual interest.

Then there's the 'traditional garter tie', which is what I reccomend, where you'll have the ends of the garters themselves sticking out from beneath the hose cuffs.

Personally, I find myself going with no visible flashes/garter ends most of the time, unless I'm really dressing up. I just use a pair of garters that my mom crocheted for me years ago, and rap them around, tuck in the ends, and turn the hose cuff all the way over the whole deal. Nothing wrong with that, especially if you want a very casual, understated look.

With the sgian dubh, I think most folks use it as a fashion accessory, though many are regular knife carriers and have had sgians made that are useable knives (myself included). Personally, I wouldn't wear a sgian without a useable blade, and I often times wear no sgian at all, favoring a pen knife in my sporran, or a larger folder clipped inside the waistband of my kilt.

As to laws, I would strongly reccomend that you pick up a copy of Knife Laws of the 50 States, if you're very conserned about the matter.

Generally speaking though, as long as you're not in an airport or government building, and as long as you've not been caught in the act of committing a crime, it seems that the fuzz will leave you be.

[madmacs]

While I have both garter ties and flashes, I tend to wear flashes more often...

As for a knife (I'm guessing the rcmp would be able to give you the scoop on legality if you're in canada) I wouldnt wear one if i didnt usually... And in MO a fixed blade would I believe be seen as a dagger (defimite no no) so unless it's either blunt or for a special occasion I'd probably leave it home...

[Chas]

I wear traditional garter ties, but do not always wear a sgian dubh. When Scottish Country Dancing there is just too much stomping and the sgian disappears down the hose.

Regards

Chas

[piperdbh]

The only time Ive worn flashes is part of my Scouting uniform.

What is the feeling about wearing flashes? Is it away to "complete the look"? Is it away to add more color?

They're a way to hold up your socks, although I've maintained for years that a sock should hold itself up.

What is the feeling about wearing a sgian duhn? Are there any legal issues about wearing one?

Probably. There's legal issues about just about everything.

[ForresterModern]

I generally wear either garters with flashes or garter ties whose ends then become the flashes when they hang out below the hose turnover. Otherwise, as Ryan says, your hose tops will head south with any activity.

I rarely wear a sgian dhub mainly because, aside from highland games and similar celtic themed events, most of the time I am out kilted I am places where I would not carry a knife, certainly not one of the size of a SD, and certainly not in an openly visible manner (work--a children's hospital, a function with my son and his friends, golfing, horseraces, black tie dinner, etc...). IMHO not a necessity, although I do have a few that are indeed functional with a sharpened edge, I think the most I have used them for was to cut off some tags from something I bought at a games or to trim a couple loose threads here and there, maybe split an apple or orange once or twice.

[Tobus]

I always wear traditional garter ties. I love the way they look, and they do a fine job holding my hose up. Without garter ties (or flashes, if you care for that look, which I don't), they just look like tall socks to me. But with them, they look like kilt hose should look. That's just the way I personally see it. I have, though, seen some examples of really thick hose with chunky turnovers that look OK without visible flashes/garters. I guess it's an issue of proportion. I do think it would be easier to get away without them if one were wearing patterned hose, or patterned cuffs, rather than plain self-coloured hose.

I usually wear a sgian dubh, but if I'm going somewhere that it might be a problem, I'll leave it behind. So I can go either way with it. I do see it as a normal part of Highland attire, but don't think it looks "off" when it's missing.

When I do wear one, though, it's always a functional knife. Wearing a fake or non-functional knife just for looks seems kind of strange to me, like it's a prop for a stage costume.

[Dale Seago]

For me:

Everything Tobus just said. Garter ties and functional sgian; only time I don't wear the latter kilted is in Japan, where it stays under my pillow in my room.

[Father Bill]

They're a way to hold up your socks, although I've maintained for years that a sock should hold itself up.

Many men find that their socks will hold themselves up, but of course that depends on the shape of the individual man's legs. Not all legs are as perfect as my wife's!