Are you complete without a Sgian Dubh?

[Bugbear]

Just put your pocket square in the top of your hose instead of the sgian dubh.
Better yet put your sgian dubh where the pocket square goes.

Oh, I forgot to

[SteveB]

The sgian dubh is legal here when the blade is less than four inches and sharpened on only one side. Any longer blade would require a Firearms Identification Card, and its long process for approval in Massachusetts. No double edge blades are legal here except in your razor. My sgian is quite sharp and capable of cutting rope or anything else. The Scottish Letter Opener was intended to be tongue in cheek. As one of my neighbors has said of his sgian, it looks more lethal in the hose than out of the scabbard. When out and about many people see the cap badge, belt insignia, sporran, kilt pin and sgian dubh as emblematic devices that go with the kilt. For many, the fact that there is a blade there only becomes apparent when the sgian is drawn from the hose.
Slainte

[Bugbear]

Everyone knows that the pocket square is far more dangerous than the sgian dubh... Especially a pocket square with strange designs all over it.

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...

[herminator]

In the early 1940s men did for a short time match their pocket squares and ties. but the world was at war and they were doubtless distracted.

The things you can find on the internet ... golden words of wisdom!!

[bowser]

The things you can find on the internet ... golden words of wisdom!!

Not quite sure what this quote is talking about, I don't think I have EVER bought a tie that didn't come with a matching handkerchief, now to be fair I rarely wear a tie and the last time I bought one was probably 15 - 20 years ago, but even so.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

In my opinion, by the end of the 19th century, the sgian dubh had become something of a social status indicator, along with the sporran and belt plate. Undoubtedly an Edwardian gentleman would have been possessed of three sgians dubh: A "rustic" sgian dubh, probably with antler handle, for out in the field in his heaviest kilt and thorn proof tweeds; a silver mounted sgian dubh for day wear; a very fancy sgian dubh, almost inevitably set with a cairngorm, for evening wear.

For those who could afford it the evening wear sgian dubh would have been purchased as part of a set (referred to as a suite) that would have put your matching tie and hankie set to shame. It would have comprised a matching sporran, belt plate, sporran chain, dirk, sgian dubh, and belt. Quite often these items were crested, or at least monogrammed. Metal parts would be silver, silver gilt, or silver plate (a few ducal suites, and those made for brewery baronets were hammered out in solid gold). They came in exquisitely fitted cases, and cost a considerable amount. Like the signet ring on their little finger, these items set them apart from lesser mortals who made do with one, or possibly two, sgians dubh.

Of course, in the fifty years following Victoria's death, there was a great deal of social change as class distinctions became blurred, and the occasions of "dress" were altered. The triumph of black tie over white tie pretty much ended the need for anything other than a simple silver mounted sporran (made post-war along military lines out of surplus leather stampings with a bit of sealskin added for effect), and a silver mounted sgian dubh. Which today can be had with a cheap plastic grip and chrome plated fittings...

Digging through an old cheque book I found two entires worthy of note: I bought a new kilt for GBP 35.00, and a new sterling silver mounted sgian dubh for GBP 12.50 (we had just gone off the "old money"). So my sgian dubh cost about half what I paid for my kilt... so it would seem that in terms of relative values things haven't changed that much. GBP 400.00 (or there abouts) buys you a new kilt, and something around GBP 200.00 gets you a sliver mounted sgian dubh.

And for better or worse, both are still indicative of social (or at least desired) social status.

[JRB]

For those who could afford it the evening wear sgian dubh would have been purchased as part of a set (referred to as a suite) that would have put your matching tie and hankie set to shame. It would have comprised a matching sporran, belt plate, sporran chain, dirk, sgian dubh, and belt. Quite often these items were crested, or at least monogrammed. Metal parts would be silver, silver gilt, or silver plate (a few ducal suites, and those made for brewery baronets were hammered out in solid gold). They came in exquisitely fitted cases, and cost a considerable amount. Like the signet ring on their little finger, these items set them apart from lesser mortals who made do with one, or possibly two, sgians dubh.

I've seen sets exactly as you described complete in a decorated wooden presentation box for sale at Scotish Highland games for very high sums of money (several thousand dollars). So it seems the tradition of an evening wear suite is still around.

[Bugbear]

Hmmm, I only have a daywear outfit right now... Someone described it as a "country gent" outfit, so I am guessing one of the stag horn, or a pewter mounted rosewood handle would be right; keeping in mind the ratios givin.

That also might give me an idea of what a sgian dubh handle is supposed to look like... I've seen skinning knives, but I doubt the handles were anything like a sgian dubh's.

[Darkislander]

I feel something is missing if it's not in the sock.

[Bob C]

I feel something is missing if it's not in the sock.

Ditto, though I accept that it is sometimes just not practical. Most people accept it when I tell them it is a pocket knife for guys with no pockets.