YASDQ - Yet Another Sgian Dubh Question

[HootinHoller]

Do you do anything other than shove it in the hose top to secure it?

I poked around the forum a bit and I haven't seen this answered. The reason I asked is one evening to my horror mine had fallen out and I hadn't noticed. I backtracked and luckily found it next to the car in the parking lot.

I would rather like to avoid a repeat, but I would like to have the badge on the handle show above the hose and I think that's why it fell out. Either that or I'm just daft.

[McMurdo]

No thats about it, I rarely wear one as a result also I find the only real reason to wear a sgian dubh is to get a perfect indentation in your leg.

[Geoff Withnell]

Most of the clan badge type sgians I've seen really have the badge a little too far down the handle to reliably stay in the hose with the badge showing, which is why I usually don't wear that sort of sgian. Do you use flashes or garter ties? If you snug up a little on the elastic on flashes, it can help. Don't make it too tight, or you will cut off your lower leg circulation.

[HootinHoller]

Most of the clan badge type sgians I've seen really have the badge a little too far down the handle to reliably stay in the hose with the badge showing, which is why I usually don't wear that sort of sgian. Do you use flashes or garter ties? If you snug up a little on the elastic on flashes, it can help. Don't make it too tight, or you will cut off your lower leg circulation.

I use flashes, and have a larger calf. I think you're right about the badge being low on the handle. It's the same model as the Xmarks one with a clan badge. Thinking about it, I've never seen a scabbard strap advertised anywhere.

[mookien]

My guess is that positioning the handle high enough to show the badge is making things top heavy. I usually leave only about an inch or so of the handle above the top of my hose and have never had a problem.

[tulloch]

Most I have seen have a sheath that only covers the blade. Wearing it, then, leaves the whole handle not contained. If it isn't pushed well down in the hose it can easily flip out. I bought one some years ago without a sheath so I made one that went up half the handle. It coincidentally fits others that I have. I put that sheath down to where the top is at the top of my hose. I have not had one fall out since I have used this one.

[MNlad]

The other problem with many of the sheaths is they are made of a very smooth leather so there is little to grab either your hose or the side of your leg. The sheath I currently use was made from some scrap leather. While not suede, it has a slightly rough exterior and holds the blade very tightly. No problem keeping the little beasty in place and it is still comfortable.

[Tobus]

Most sgians dubh are handle-heavy, since they have such short blades. They really aren't designed or intended to leave a lot sticking out the top of your hose. The clan crest styles (or others with decorations on the side of the handle) are a bit of a waste, since they need to be pushed in so far that the decoration is hidden.

Even my stag-handle sgian dubh always stays put in my hose, because it gets pushed far enough down to have the center of gravity well below my garter tie.

[HootinHoller]

Most sgians dubh are handle-heavy, since they have such short blades. They really aren't designed or intended to leave a lot sticking out the top of your hose. The clan crest styles (or others with decorations on the side of the handle) are a bit of a waste, since they need to be pushed in so far that the decoration is hidden.

Even my stag-handle sgian dubh always stays put in my hose, because it gets pushed far enough down to have the center of gravity well below my garter tie.

Yes, I agree it is a bit of a waste, but I'm not going to lose it again over showing it.

Oh, and sure bring up the physics of the issue, but you're right about the center of gravity.

[HootinHoller]

MNlad, Mine is embossed leather like that and came out on the blade.