YASDQ - Yet Another Sgian Dubh Question

[MNlad]

The other problem with many of the sheaths is they are made of a very smooth leather so there is little to grab either your hose or the side of your leg. The sheath I currently use was made from some scrap leather. While not suede, it has a slightly rough exterior and holds the blade very tightly. No problem keeping the little beasty in place and it is still comfortable.

[Tobus]

Most sgians dubh are handle-heavy, since they have such short blades. They really aren't designed or intended to leave a lot sticking out the top of your hose. The clan crest styles (or others with decorations on the side of the handle) are a bit of a waste, since they need to be pushed in so far that the decoration is hidden.

Even my stag-handle sgian dubh always stays put in my hose, because it gets pushed far enough down to have the center of gravity well below my garter tie.

[HootinHoller]

Most sgians dubh are handle-heavy, since they have such short blades. They really aren't designed or intended to leave a lot sticking out the top of your hose. The clan crest styles (or others with decorations on the side of the handle) are a bit of a waste, since they need to be pushed in so far that the decoration is hidden.

Even my stag-handle sgian dubh always stays put in my hose, because it gets pushed far enough down to have the center of gravity well below my garter tie.

Yes, I agree it is a bit of a waste, but I'm not going to lose it again over showing it.

Oh, and sure bring up the physics of the issue, but you're right about the center of gravity.

[Old Hippie]

Oh, and sure bring up the physics of the issue, but you're right about the center of gravity.

{grin}

My most-often worn sgian is a version of "Tourist Special" that one could often find in Scotland in the mid-'70s to mid-'80s. Which is to say I didn't buy one when I was there in '77, but that a friend of mine bought it for me when he visited in about '82. I keep it and wear it in his memory, as he lived an unhappy and ultimately short life after leaving the Navy. Because it has no clan badge I tend to wear it stuck down a bit, with just the glass "jewel" and a bit of the handle showing.

("...the Scot would adorn his sgian dubh with cairngorm stones of small value..." as it says in the literature in the original box...)

My other sgian is a full-tang spear-point with scale handles and filework that I made in 1990. It's a heavy beast so I don't carry it often.

The other option is to acquire some variety of "sgian don't" and wear that. Having the "sgian brew" or the "sgian shoe" could ultimately be more useful than a little knife with your clan badge on it, anyway. (Hence the popularity of the "Officer's Model" sgian with screwdriver, bottle opener and corkscrew -- which always seemed ungainly to me but I'll defer to the opinion of the man who has one.)

[HootinHoller]

(Hence the popularity of the "Officer's Model" sgian with screwdriver, bottle opener and corkscrew -- which always seemed ungainly to me but I'll defer to the opinion of the man who has one.)

That's the one I have. I feel nekkid without a corkscrew. It's actually a well made and compact item. Sharp looking in a utilitarian sort of way.

[HootinHoller]

MNlad, Mine is embossed leather like that and came out on the blade.