Sgian Dubhs, what is appropriate?

[MacRob]

A sgian dubh is a knife - 'black knife' - its only purpose was for killing someone. It does not matter what it looks like, Its purpose was to kill. There is no such thing as a 'dress' sgian dubh. if you want to kill someone, you do not possess a variety of knives to kill according to occasion.

I strongly disagree with this statement. First of all, Highlanders from earliest times, did carry a number of knives on their persons. Sgians were carried for eating, cleaning game and also as backup weapons. The sgian dubh of today only superficially resembles those carried in ancient days. The old sgians were longer and with different blade configuration. While they COULD be used for self defense, the dirk or bollock dagger were more likely to take that role. Since Victoria times the sgian dubh has become primarily an ornament and as an ornament, comes in various configurations. There are "dress" sgian dubhs as well as working knives. I have both and carry both from time to time, tucked into my kilt hose, a custom that was apparently not followed until the late 18th c.

[Theyoungkiltman]

Yes the sgian dubh was called the "black knife" either because of the bog oak handle or the small "covert" size. It always was a utility tool and for killing a scotsman would use a dirk or sgian achlais not his sgian dubh. The sgian dubh in later times became a status symbol and almost entirely decorative. I also believe that a sgian dubh should be functional except when law prohibits it.