Boyfriend's Christmas Present

**Tony** · 19th November 10, 12:43 PM

I think the sporran is a better choice.

**English Bloke** · 19th November 10, 01:55 PM

The Scotland Kilt Company do some nice sgians for under £25. They are good quality too. I've got a black one.

**Nighthawk** · 19th November 10, 02:00 PM

Have you heard about heathergems? Check these out!

http://www.heathergems.com/Sgian_Dub...eathergem.html

I have the matching set- they are BEAUTIFUL!!

**Ryan Ross** · 19th November 10, 02:35 PM

Were it me, I'd get more pumped about a sporran than a sgian dubh. He'll HAVE to have a sporran, if he gets a kilt, but at the end of the day, a little shiv to stick in his sock can wait. This may be a case of "father knows best".

If you do get him a sporran, a plain black leather one will likely be most versitile.

**O'Callaghan** · 19th November 10, 05:47 PM

Don't take this the wrong way, but IME Glasgow was always the sort of place where a knife might have come in handy for self defence. On another board a lady told me that it had changed, but then spoilt it by saying that the neds were now attacking people using blunt weapons due to laws against carrying knives!

I'm just a Sassenach (with a touch of Irish), but I have cousins from Glasgow, related through the English side. We witnessed violence more than once when visiting them, including one of my cousins getting attacked with a razor. In the end, they all moved away from Glasgow to escape from it. I don't suppose there's any nice way to put this, but I wouldn't move there if you paid me.

BTW, my cousins graduated from the University of Glasgow, and the elder brother worked at Strathclyde University, although that was all long ago. I wonder where you are studying?

Regardless of the legality of carrying a sgian dubh, I would guess that a lot of places wouldn't let him in with one. Ironically, those would be the places where he might need it most. They didn't call the bad guys neds back in the old days, but they carried razors because they weren't allowed in places with knives.

**English Bloke** · 19th November 10, 06:01 PM

I got a hard time on here a while back for suggesting that a wearing a Sgian could be likened to carrying a knife for criminal purpose. If I object to them doing it, why is it OK for me? I withdrew my objections in light of advice from wiser men and now wear a sgian for decoration when I feel the situation warrants it. I still refuse to wear one as an everyday article. Perhaps you are better with a sporran.

**xman** · 19th November 10, 06:48 PM

As you can see Catriona, there is sometimes some controversy regarding the wearing of a sgian dubh. While the blade is under 3" and generally not considered a weapon by most people and part of cultural attire and usually accepted as such in most places, perhaps the sporran is a better choice, but thanks to this thread I just pulled the plug on an antler sgian myself. Cheers!

**Frank McGrath** · 22nd November 10, 06:30 AM

I have a sgain but never wear it. I choose not to wear something that would be construed as a weapon. I also would not want it to be taken away and used on me.

Just my opinion. for what it's worth

**tulloch** · 22nd November 10, 06:46 AM

I would go for a nice brooch, kilt pin, bonnet or belt. It sounds like the hassles of having a sgian are not worth it. Good luck and please let us know.