Sgian Dubhs, what is appropriate?

[Chaps]

As a newbie here, I have been reading many posts about sgian dubhs and other kilt accessories. From what I am seeing as with most things there are sgian dubhs appropriate for day and those appropriate for evening. Is this correct and what is the difference? Any help would be appreciated as always.

[Jock Scot]

Generally speaking you are correct. The day wear Sgians are basically the same size and shape as the evening (dress) ones, but less ornate and more utilitarian with a less ornate sheath. Like many things in life, things are never that clear cut, but that will do until you feel your way around the mysteries of Highland attire!

Oh by the way, welcome from Inverness-shire.

[Jordan]

Jock has hit the nail right on the head.

I will also add that you can get immigration Sgian Dubh's and one like mine which Is a bottle opener. Which is made as a daywear one but since I don't often wear it during the day it does me in the evening too.

[Carlo]

Jock has hit the nail right on the head.

I will also add that you can get immigration Sgian Dubh's and one like mine which Is a bottle opener. Which is made as a daywear one but since I don't often wear it during the day it does me in the evening too.

immigration Sgian Dubh ?
Are we talking about Swiss Army knives in the sock?

[Jordan]

immigration Sgian Dubh ?
Are we talking about Swiss Army knives in the sock?

I meant imitation. Dam auto-correct.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Day sgians tend to have stag-horn or brown wooden handles. Fittings may be brass.

Dress sgians for formal wear usually have more ornate handles, often in black wood with silver fittings. The very dressy ones with a cairngorm mounted on the top of the hilt. Cheap modern versions often have handles made of black plastic.

[sailortats]

Chaps here is a pic of my day wear and evening wear sgian dubhs. The one on the left is the day wear. The day wear one only cost $20. and the evening wear one was around $70. The evening one isn't so fancy that it cannot do duty as day wear from time to time.
sgian dubhs.JPG

[rondo]

...And some of us choose not to wear any sgian, day or night. It is, imho, not a requirement much like a kilt pin.
Rondo

[IsaacW]

I have a nice stag horn handle one that I never use. It is a plain and too illegal or questionable in most places. I think a bottle opener would be far more useful in most in most settings. Until I start. Hunting in my kilt

[TheOfficialBren]

...And some of us choose not to wear any sgian, day or night. It is, imho, not a requirement much like a kilt pin.
Rondo

Plus one. I wear a kilt pin about every third or so time that I kilt up. A friend on here, Mike Montgomery, made me two really sharp ones. I really like them. I don't own a sgian dubh.

Wear one or don't. It's all personal preference and not "required."

from Southern California!