Folding Knife as a Sgian Dubh?

[Howard Clark]

I have never had a problem anywhere in Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, or the other states (Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee) I traveled through last summer on a trip with my kids. I have chosen not to wear one on two occasions. Both were concerts in very large venues, with security details at all the entrances. I don't think it would have caused a problem there, either, because frankly the security folk were not all that observant. Still it seemed smarter to just not go there.

As for the definition of "dagger" or "dirk" it is left intentionally vague by the legislators, and the officer on the scene (or the prosecutor) have wide discretion.

[Riverkilt]

Really happened to me story, but the "problem" was in my mind. My belief I needed to exercise extreme caution.

Two years ago, driving deep on the Navajo Reservation, traveling from Flagstaff, Arizona to Keams Canyon on the Hopi Reservation. In full Scottish turnout after the Highland Games. Pulled over for speeding near Leupp, AZ

Anyone who reads Tony Hillerman knows that Navajo Police work alone and far from any back up by other officers. They are extremely serious and we were in the middle of nowhere. Him and me.

I know a little bit about police work and endeavored to follow all instructions. He in turn protected himself from me by keeping his open patrol car door between us at all times.

Just after I got out of my car I realized I had an unsharpened sgian dubh in my kilt hose. It just made sense to me to stand so that the sgian dubh was hidden from him by my leg. Just didn't want to complicate the situation.

He did the usual questioning and eyeball search of my car for weapons and alcohol [the later not okay on the rez] but never eased up until I'd signed off on the ticket.

Then he asked, "Why are you dressed like that?" I explained I'd just come from the highland games in Flagstaff and was enroute to my lady's home in Keams Canyon.

He then asked, "Who won?" Took all I had to stay straight faced and explain...but explaining a highland games to someone with no clue ain't easy. Finally had an idea and told him, "Its like a Scottish Pow-Wow." He understood that.

But, point of the story for this thread is that for whatever reason it just seemed the most expediant thing for me to do was to casually conceal the sgian dubh from him by how I stood. The extreme saftey proceedures he was using made that possible. Don't know if it would have worked in the city.

I did decide that should that happen again - I'd declare it to the officer and explain it was decorative. Had thoughts of taking it out in the car but that fiddling around would be similar to moves someone with a firearm might make when stopped.

Know this story doesn't speak to the question since the officer never knew I had it. Just how my mind worked at the time.

Ron

[Streetcar]

Glad it had a good turn out. For what it's worth, I've always preferred that if someone has something that could even be confused as a weapon, that it is announced as soon as the officer makes contact.

"Good evening officer. Before we go any further, you should know I have a decorative knife in my right sock top / My kid's toy gun in the glove compartment/antique dueling pistols under my coat / etc.
How would you like it secured?"

As an officer, I HATE suprises.

[Geoff Withnell]

Cold Steel has come out with a limited edition folding Sgian Dubh. It's out of my league on price, but I wants it!

http://www.ltspecpro.com/caledonianedge.html

Geoff Withnell

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Just the thing for knife store ninjas.

[Bigkahuna]

Cold Steel has come out with a limited edition folding Sgian Dubh. It's out of my league on price, but I wants it!

http://www.ltspecpro.com/caledonianedge.html

Geoff Withnell

You beat me to it Geoff. I just got a copy of the latest Cold Steel Catalog and there on page 11 was the CALEDONIAN EDGE. A folding Sgian Dubh. 41/2" blade, 9 5/16" overall. Weight 5.8 oz. It's a little pricey though at $439.99. You could buy a real nice traditional Sgian Dubh for much less than that. But if that is what you are looking for, there it is.

[Colonel MacNeal]

Golf Tango Foxtrot Oscar! My first car didn't cost that much.

[Bigkahuna]

Golf Tango Foxtrot Oscar! My first car didn't cost that much.