Sgian Dhu Ban for Bannockburn 2014

[Downunder Kilt]

Post #25 English Bloke,

That is a "bulletproof" vest. It does Not stop a blade...at all. It is designed to slow down a blunt object. Coppers are wearing them because the world is filled with nuts and predators, NOT because the world is filled with Scots.

This is a knee-jerk reaction to a non-problem. I do this for a living and this has been my observation from 17 years of playing the game.

I think you will find that the British Police on the beat are issued with stab vests rather than bulletproof vests and have been for a number of years

[Jock Scot]

Certainly our Bobbies call them "Stab Vests", for good reason no doubt.

[Chas]

My son (a paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service) wears his stab vest on a Friday and Saturday night when attending incidents on the Prince of Wales Rd in Norwich.

[sydnie7]

The multiple "wear a sgian brew instead" suggestions seem, IMHO, a spectacularly bad idea.

Why not just carry a toy pistol shoved into your belt, with only the very realistic-looking handle showing? Think you would get a different reaction?

[English Bloke]

A bullet proof vest is it? Rightie-ho then, if you say so.

I think we might be missing the point here but hey...

The British Police wear stab vests as standard and have done so for a good number of years. They wear them because of the high risk they face of being stabbed while at work.

They risk being stabbed at work because knife crime in certain areas of THIS country (England AND Scotland) is endemic.

I do believe that was the point I was trying to convey although it now seems rather moot.

The British Police do not wear bullet proof vests as standard (despite my deceptive illustration) because there is not as much risk of them being shot while at work... Although unfortunately, some of them are.

My selection of the picture in post No. 25 was intended to show a stab vest. I clearly have no idea what a stab vest looks like (despite seeing them worn by British Policemen and women every day). Combine this with my politically correct posturing and poop and my arguments, it seems, are rendered invalid. No need to show any concern for the potential so long as we can wear our sgians unimpeded. As you say, it's a non-problem so I shall take myself out of the discussion.

I hope the visitors to Bannockburn 14 can salvage something from their visit I realise how difficult it will be not having something handy to peel an orange or maybe whittle a stick.

My apologies for diverting this outrage bus from it's original journey. It won't happen again.

Anyway. Today is the anniversary of my joining X-Marks. That's interesting.

[English Bloke]

Why not just carry a toy pistol shoved into your belt, with only the very realistic-looking handle showing? Think you would get a different reaction?

Wearing a Sgian Brew will get you an encounter with an inquisitive Copper which will be resolved as soon as you show him the article. The exchange might be a tad awkward, depending on the Copper but you won't be arrested or bundled into a van in cuffs.

Wearing a imitation firearm (toy with realistic handle) will likely get you shot. And if not shot, will definitely land you a lengthy custodial sentence.

Cummon let's get real people?

Sorry, did I say I was removing myself from the discussion?

See, you can never trust an Englishman

[sydnie7]

Wearing a Sgian Brew will get you an encounter with an inquisitive Copper which will be resolved as soon as you show him the article. The exchange might be a tad awkward, depending on the Copper but you won't be arrested or bundled into a van in cuffs.

Wearing a imitation firearm (toy with realistic handle) will likely get you shot. And if not shot, will definitely land you a lengthy custodial sentence.

Cummon let's get real people?

Sorry, did I say I was removing myself from the discussion?

See, you can never trust an Englishman

Just trying to draw a comparison. . . showing the appearance of a weapon that has been banned from the venue. High-level conceptual question, not picking the flyspecks from the pepper vis a vis which vest is which.

And happy anniversary, by the way!

[okiwen]

Stab-vest...Well then. OK, I stand corrected. I guess that's a good idea then. :buttkick: That kinda sucks.

[flyrod6057]

Sydnie7, I couldn't disagree more. I'm assuming that you're indulging in a bit of hyperbole to illustrate a point, but I think the stretch is a bit too far. Many kilties opt for a sgian brew. Cops know this. It's a simple thing to show a law enforcement official that you're carrying a bottle opener. In fact, you could probably just tell them what it is and they would smile and move along. Even if they were suspicious, the effective range of a sgian dubh--if one wanted to use it maliciously--is arm's length plus 3 inches. Not too hard to maintain that distance while verifying the bottle opener. A pistol in the belt is an animal of a different color altogether. The effective range of a pistol can exceed 25 yards. As such, safety dictates that cops exercise extreme caution when confronting a possible firearm. Totally not a similar situation to carrying a beer tool.

I'm with English Bloke. Cummon, let's get real.

[freddie]

I've just signed the petition. To a traditional Scottish kilt wearer the sgian dhu is an integral component of 'Highland dress'. It has an historical significance, as the Highlander was allowed to carry a small knife after the disarming act came into force. If you don't wear a sgian dhu you might as well not wear a sporran either. However it is only worn for show and I've never used one as 'a knife'. In fact I've glued my real ones so that they can't be drawn from their sheaths, and if I was stopped by an over zealous official I'd tell them "It's a dummy, you try and find a blade".