Are you complete without a Sgian Dubh?

[Uilleam Sexton]

Guidelines, schmidelines. If I don't have a sgian I can use, I carry one in my sporran.

[Bugbear]

Guidelines, schmidelines. If I don't have a sgian I can use, I carry one in my sporran.

Well, I was only asking about the guidelines because I sometimes wear a kilt as a part of a "dressed up" outfit... kind of like a suit. In that case there would be guidelines as to what kind of sgian dubh would be worn if one is being worn.

I was mostly asking for myself as I looked at the huge selection of them at the link I posted back there. I almost always have my pocket knife in my sporran or attached to my watch chain when wearing my kilt. It just might be nice to have one in the future that is proper for my outfit.

... Anyway, I looked over at the Scottish Tartans Museum's sgian dubh page, and I really don't know what I'm supposed to wear with what other than maybe daywear and evening wear on some of them.

I just don't know the guidelines and so on...

[SB996]

Sgian Duhb always in my hose. A knife is a great tool/weapon. I have a few I carry. Formal for formal occasions, sharp polish blade never used. For more casual days I carry a usable blade and have used the tool on countless occasions. I have never pulled the Sgian in defense of person and hope never to, but it is always with me.

While others will disagree to each his/her own. I think it is part of the outfit and a very useful tool no man/woman should be without. If concerned about getting in trouble with the police get a Concealed Weapons Permit. Most think of CCW for guns but in most states it also covers blades.

[JRB]

If concerned about getting in trouble with the police get a Concealed Weapons Permit.

You make it sound so easy. In actuality it's extremely difficult if not completely impossible in many states. Not to mention that a CCW permit, if it can be obtained at all, is very expensive to acquire. In my state of New York, a CCW permit can only be obtained if a county judge allows it in his/her district, and you have to have a good reason (deemed so by that judge). Then, it takes 3-6 months for a background check and paper work to go through. You also have to pay several hundred dollars in fees plus pay for and attend a safety course. To go through all that just to be able to carry a largely ceremonial and often poor quality "knife" in my sock on occassions when I'm kilted is just plain ridiculous. That's not to say I don't wear a sgian dubh from time to time. But I'll stick to my trusty pocket knife for every day use.

[Panache]

I was thinking then of maybe carrying a "toffee hammer" in the hose?

That way I could carry some MacIntosh Toffee in sporran and be able to break it up with the "wee hammer".

OH MY!

I owe 4 sgian don't bottle openers to friends / family at the moment and you have me looking at toffee hammer I've had sitting in a drawer since last Christmas.

I would have grind down the handle to fit inside a wood one but it could work, it could work...


Cheers

Jamie

[Tim Little]

I definitely fall into the "to each his own" category. I do own an ornamental sgian dubh similiar to this (lousy image) that I'll wear with my PC... if I deem the circumstances are appropriate. For instance: I wore it at my wedding, but not at the Governor's Inaugural Ball (where security would likely have looked askance at it).

However, as I generally don't carry a knife when un-kilted, I don't see any particular reason why I need to carry a knife while wearing a kilt.

[Southern Breeze]

For those of you who are wondering about the laws in your state, check out CarryConcealed. It's pretty good, dealing with all types of weapons.
I have a CCW permit and have to stay up to date on the laws in various states.


http://www.carryconcealed.net/

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

I wouldn't go without a sgain dubh. In a situation where an actual knife would not be permitted, there are always the safety sgian dubh.

They look realistic enough to go into your hose.



True story, I was stopped for speeding while wearing the kilt in the USA. I sat in the cop car. The cop told me to keep my hands out of my pockets.

Yep, my sgian dubh was in my hose the whole time I was sitting next to the cop!

[Zardoz]

If I'm wearing my hose up with flashes etc. the sgain dubh goes in.

[The Vicar]

ahhhhh yes but can you lighten the mood with a wee bit of toffee from your wee hammer?