Dirks are for Pipes & Drums

[Colonel MacNeal]

All Tastemasters Present,

I've got a pal that insists on wearing a giant jeweled dirk anytime he wears the kilt, regardless of the occasion. Aside from being a violation of state law - it looks pretty silly. He might as well be wearing the highland pistols. Am I alone in thinking the dirks should be retired for anyone not in PIPES & DRUMS?

Also, what's a good source for a dummy sgian dubh? Everybody is so security crazy now.

Thanks ....

[george7]

Dirks are definitely a military-esque accessory. I never wear my dirk for a night out on the town.

[The Wizard of BC]

The Sgain you are asking about is called a Safety Sgain. It is usually all plastic with no blade. But hey, why stop there?

Here is my Sgain Shoe



And there have been quite a few of our members who have made Sgain Brew.
I can't find the threads right now but a quick search using Sgain Brew as keywords will bring up some ideas for you.

[The Barry]

I don't even own a dirk, as I would never wear one. I don't ever emulate the military-style kilt fashion, so I have little need of a dirk, as it would be out of place. I don't think that they should be relegated to only pipes and drums, many people enjoy the military look, let them wear a dirk if it's appropriate for their style.

As for a "safety sgian": I have a problem with these. It's along the same lines as to why an unloaded pistol is illegal. A sgian dubh is a weapon, a formerly concealed, and now openly carried, weapon. To display the handle of a sgian without actually having a blade attached seems to me as useless as openly carrying an empty handgun in a holster.

I know that there's a difference, but I can't get around it. Why display a weapon if it's not actually there? You don't have to wear a sgian. And if you're entering into a "touchy" security situation, I think that all involved might feel a lot better about you having nothing in your hose than something that still makes it look like you're carrying a weapon.

I think that I perhaps have had too much coffee this morning.

[The Wizard of BC]

Ah, but I'm not wearing a weapon. I have a Shoe Horn in my sock that has a fancy handle. And as I have far more use for a shoe horn than I do for a knife in my sock that is what I wear.
If I need a blade I am no further than 2 or 3 feet from one. There must be at least 10 around the shop.
Plus, when Police or airport security question me about it there is always a chuckle and further discussion about Kilts and accessories.
It is a really good conversation starter and I've sold a couple of Kilts just by wearing something unique and fitting to my outfit far more practical than a knife.

[The Barry]

Ah, but I'm not wearing a weapon. I have a Shoe Horn in my sock that has a fancy handle. And as I have far more use for a shoe horn than I do for a knife in my sock that is what I wear.
If I need a blade I am no further than 2 or 3 feet from one. There must be at least 10 around the shop.
Plus, when Police or airport security question me about it there is always a chuckle and further discussion about Kilts and accessories.
It is a really good conversation starter and I've sold a couple of Kilts just by wearing something unique and fitting to my outfit far more practical than a knife.

I understand that. I'm just kind of stuck in this notion that if you see a handle sticking out of a sock, there's a knife in there. More than that, I feel that is what most other people think when they see a handle sticking out of a sock.

I think that I may be too wrapped up in the historical origins of the sgian, that they were put in the owner's hose so that they wouldn't be concealing a weapon. That, and I've had coffee, gets me a bit ranty!

[bricelythgoe]

Ah, but I'm not wearing a weapon. I have a Shoe Horn in my sock that has a fancy handle. And as I have far more use for a shoe horn than I do for a knife in my sock that is what I wear.
If I need a blade I am no further than 2 or 3 feet from one. There must be at least 10 around the shop.
Plus, when Police or airport security question me about it there is always a chuckle and further discussion about Kilts and accessories.
It is a really good conversation starter and I've sold a couple of Kilts just by wearing something unique and fitting to my outfit far more practical than a knife.

I love it! Great idea! I never really need a knife.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I love it! Great idea! I never really need a knife.

The only time you will ever need a knife is when you don't have it.

[Twa_Corbies]

On this point, I have to disagree. While I world never suggest wearing a formal dress dirk with anything other than formal attire, the dirk was never strictly a military weapon, it was as much as anything a civilian tool, and there are stag-antler hilted dirks and others with wooden hilts and brass fittings that are designed for daywear. These can be useful for hunters and outdoorsmen, and while I don't wear one as a part of everyday dress, I see nothing wrong with doing so if they are useful and needed. Dress dirks however should be relegated to formal dress occassions as their jeweled hilts and elaborately worked silver fittings clash with day wear.

[Arlen]

I think it depends on the occasion. A nice dirk with a full dress outfit at a ball can really set things off. It can look very good.
Wearing it with A t-shirt and Kilt goes a bit far. If you are using it, say... if you are hunting, then keeping a plain and serviceable sgian is far more appropriate. If you need a larger blade for hunting, etc, then a stag hilted Dirk would work fine.


As far as Sgians without a blade, make yourself a sgian don't of some sort. (Comb, bottle opener, shoe horn or whatever replacing the blade.)
Alternatively, you can buy them from ebay.