Are you complete without a Sgian Dubh?

[SteveB]

If I am wearing hose up and flashed, the sgian dubh is almost always present. I worked November 4th as the Warden in the election. I wore my kilt and Argyle with the sgian dubh for the whole day 4 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. that it took to operate the election in my precinct. One of the responsibilities of the Warden is to check off the absentee ballots based on an outer envelope, open the envelope and place the inner enveloped ballot in a pile. Then removing the identifiable envelopes to the return bin. Then I open the ballot envelopes and place each ballot through the optical scanner into the ballot box. This process is done in front of the police officer assigned to the poll as the witness that the privacy of the ballot has been honoured. The officer assigned for this election was new to our precinct, and was surprised when I brought out my Scottish letter opener (Sgian Dubh) to process the envelopes. He asked if it was a my custom to be armed. I said that it is my custom to be armed with adequate cutlery for the dining table, such as peeling fruit and the occasional need to open a letter. He told me later that he had been curious from the beginning of the day what was sticking out of my hose, but did not feel the need to ask. He was rather pleased to get a little education about Highland attire, and some of the Scot customs.
Here in Massachusetts the Sgian Dubh's blade is short enough to carry without much problem except to a school. I have had no problem with it anywhere here.

[Howard Clark]

I almost always have a knife. Not necessarily a sgian dubh in my sock, but more often than not that is what it will be. Unless it is a sensitive place/event that it would cause trouble. Then a folder of some sort goes along.

[Bugbear]

You know... I wouldn't mind wearing one; like I said, I usually have a pocket knife. It's just that I would rather not wear a sgian dubh than to wear the wrong one and I haven't looked into it enough to know right from wrong on this topic and issue. Guess the sgian dubh bug hasn't bit me yet. I'm sure it will one of these days...
Hmmm, sgian dubh grafting knife...?

[JamieKerr]

Does the sqian taurus come with a thistle on the handle?

Hmm....no, not currently, but my PT140 is all black!

[Highlander31]

I carry a sgian when going to a formal venue. I do not when I am dressed casually. I will carry a pocket knife in my sporran, or if I am hiking in the hills, a field knife which is more practical than a sgian.

[oscagne]

My understanding is that the black knife was carried concealed, but it was and is rude to carry a concealed weapon in a friend's house or other peaceful circumstance, so the sgian dhu was pulled out and worn visible.

Geoff Withnell

This is also the story as I've heard it. I've actually heard that it used to be called the sgian achlais (armpit knife) because that was where it was concealed when in public, and only became the sgian dhu when unconcealing it when entering a friend's house.

As far as whether to wear it or not - check your local laws. Here in Texas one commits Unlawful Carry of a Weapon (PC 46.02) if one carries open or concealed an "illegal knife" in a place that is not "on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control" or "inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person's control". And an illegal knife is defined in PC 46.01(6) - with the relevant parts being; with a blade over 5 1/2 inches long, designed to be thrown, or a dagger, dirk, stiletto, poinard, bowie knife, sword or spear. Also, switchblade knives are Prohibited Weapons under 46.05. So, IANAL but, if you carry a sgian dhu in Texas, make sure the blade is less than 5 1/2 inches. You might also want to make sure that the blade is only single-edged so that it can't be claimed to be a dagger or dirk.

[Kerr the Walker]

Growing up in the woods and on docks, I feel rather unprepared without a blade on me. I generally carry a folder with about a 2.5" blade for general use regardless of venue unless I know for sure it's prohibited.

With sgian dubhs, I tend to follow the Situational Rule. If I'm in a place that it won't get me into trouble with the law, I wear it. Being a fixed blade, the "utility" of it gets placed in question a bit more than a folding pocket knife.

As for formal occasions, I've always got one tucked into the top of my hose. Except in churches. Something just doesn't sit right with me going armed into the Sanctuary. It stays in the truck in that case.

I've also heard a slightly modified version of the history of the sgian dubh. The version I read about was that tucking the "black knife" into your hose top was a sign of respect to your host in that you were showing him where your weapon was. However, this did not preclude one from being armed to the teeth with other hidden blades.

Seems like another case of truth by legend in any event.

[Panache]

For those Gents who carry a sgian dubh because they feel that a small utility knife is a good thing to have around I have to say...

I'll take my Leatherman multi-tool over a sgian dubh any day!*

Not as nice

Not as cool

But it does come with a screwdriver and other tools

Cheers

Jamie


(* NOTE: Please all, take this as it was meant, tongue in cheek!)

[Tetley]

For those Gents who carry a sgian dubh because they feel that a small utility knife is a good thing to have around I have to say...

I'll take my Leatherman multi-tool over a sgian dubh any day!*

Not as nice

Not as cool

But it does come with a screwdriver and other tools

Cheers

Jamie


(* NOTE: Please all, take this as it was meant, tongue in cheek!)

I carry a leatherman mostly everywhere I go for the same reason, It is so useful, however, when I am aboard my or any other sailing vessel I carry a knife in a scabbard either on my belt or tucked into my sock instead of my Sgian Dubh.

The reason here is simple, if a rope needs to be cut now, it needs the be cut now and not when I have unfastened the leather pouch, extracted the leatherman, unfolded the correct blade and then cut the rope.

When things go wrong on a sailing boat, they tend to go wrong quickly, badly and all over the place and a very quick response is usually the only way to stop things getting worse. Most sailors I know, including myself can get out a knife from a scabbard faster than they can think about it.

Horses for courses.

Mark

[Mr. bone]

For those Gents who carry a sgian dubh because they feel that a small utility knife is a good thing to have around I have to say...

I'll take my Leatherman multi-tool over a sgian dubh any day!*

(* NOTE: Please all, take this as it was meant, tongue in cheek!)

Here in rural Idaho, You dont leave the house without one. I have the Charge and the little toolkit that it comes with. With the circa 1970 equipment we have at the station, I use it every day!