Sgian Dubhs are not weapons ... It's official!

[Strings]

Hmmm... maybe I should expand a previous post.

The gentleman I mentioned earlier, who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in WWII. He was flying out to West Point to give the commencement speech, and decided at the last minute to being the actual Medal along.

Airport security decided that this item was "dangerous", and was going to confiscate it. Took a call to a nearby base to get things corrected.

I have other horror stories to illustrate the point if necessary.

If you're going to fly in the US, make sure ANYTHING that could be considered "a weapon" is in checked baggage!

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Hmmm... maybe I should expand a previous post.

The gentleman I mentioned earlier, who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in WWII. He was flying out to West Point to give the commencement speech, and decided at the last minute to being the actual Medal along.

Airport security decided that this item was "dangerous", and was going to confiscate it. Took a call to a nearby base to get things corrected.

I have other horror stories to illustrate the point if necessary.

If you're going to fly in the US, make sure ANYTHING that could be considered "a weapon" is in checked baggage!

Heaven help us! I've purposely avoided this discussion of the TSA but if this doesn't underscore how riduculous this has become, I don't know what could.

I'm not a frequent flyer but between the TSA and the airlines' attitude these days, I am trying to avoid flying if at all possible. I remember when it actually used to be fun . . .

[Strings]

Someone had mentioned (don't remember if it was this thread, or another), that many officers originally fought against having the sgian dubh made part of the uniform, as it was a "servants' tool".

This got me to thinking (NEVER a good thing), about the argument that the blade shape of the current sgians wouldn't be as useful for skinning (which is theorized as the sgian's original use).

Could it be that the officers' argument is part of the reason for the more "weaponized appearance" of today's sgians dubh?

[BagpiperDon]

... according to the Royal Regiment of Scotland, “The sgian dubh (Gaelic for black knife) is not a weapon” (Regs, p 60).

So there we have it! The British government has made a ruling!

If I'm not mistaken, this is the same government that has outlawed sharp-tipped knives and is now considering outlawing* beer glasses as (potential) weapons, potentially changing glass beer glasses for plastic.

Do not stick beer glasses in your kilt hoes -- and remember, when glass beer glasses are outlawed, only outlaws will drink beer from glass beer glasses.

'...as long as but a hundred of us remain drinking beer from glass beer glasses, never will we on any conditions be brought to drink beer from plastic beer glasses. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for beer consumed from glass beer glasses — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.'
~ from The Declaration Of Glass Beer Glasses for Beer Drinkers

Interesting factoid, probably not a strong argument to use with local law enforcement, but good to know none the less.

Just in case...
Factoid: something fictitious or unsubstantiated that is presented as fact, devised esp. to gain publicity and accepted because of constant repetition.

(*I've heard also considering about the same for fire extinguishers -- because people might fail to use them correctly, therefore they shouldn't have them completely canceling the possibility of using them correctly... is that it?)

[Rab Gordon]

As we're talking about laws;
The Scottish Government has ruled that as of next September I'll need a license to sell Dirks or even Sgian Dubhs with blades longer than 3.5". We don't yet know all of the exact licensing conditions but know that we'll have to verify the age and identity of people buying these, even for export, keep records, maybe increased security, etc.
Of course, the cost and conditions are likely to increase over time so we haven't decided if we'll apply for a license or instead just stop making items covered by the new act.
Annoyingly we could make and sell without restriction the number one instrument used in stabbings, that's right - kitchen knives....

Rab

[Jock Scot]

As we're talking about laws;
The Scottish Government has ruled that as of next September I'll need a license to sell Dirks or even Sgian Dubhs with blades longer than 3.5". We don't yet know all of the exact licensing conditions but know that we'll have to verify the age and identity of people buying these, even for export, keep records, maybe increased security, etc.
Of course, the cost and conditions are likely to increase over time so we haven't decided if we'll apply for a license or instead just stop making items covered by the new act.
Annoyingly we could make and sell without restriction the number one instrument used in stabbings, that's right - kitchen knives....

Rab

That's logical thinking, on some one's part. I had better say no more.

[freddie]

In the UK we have a blade limit of 3 inches, mine was 3 ¼ long and as I didn't want any trouble with some smart **** copper so I glued the blade to the sheath, it was only a cheap one so nothing lost

That's what I've done too. After all I don't use it for the purpose it was designed for. If someone did ask I'd tell them it's a 'safty sgian dhu' and ask them to try and unsheath it. Nothing's happened yet - but I'll keep you posted.