"A kilt? You pansy!"

[Nighthawk]

I was told today that I've only gone half way. If I were a real man, I'd wear nothing but boots, sporran, and blue paint. I guess I just don't have the rocks for it...

I also got my sgain dubh sharpened at Bass Pro Shop, where I was advised not to take it with me on my next trip to the UK now that it's been sharpened into a weapon. I thought that was interesting.

[Riverkilt]

Still working on sharpening my sgian dubh too. Bought a cheesy home electric knife sharpener machine from WalMarche'. Been giving it a few grinds from time to time and its getting sharp...no rush.

Just didn't seem right to have the dull edge on it.

Ron

[Bugbear]

There you go, Nighthawk, what you need is blue mustard.

Congratulations on the new sgain dubh.

[The Barry]

The new sgian is pretty. I always keep an edge on mine. No reason to wear it if it isn't sharp.

[BroosterB1]

As an old cowboy once told me; The three most useless items in the world are teats on a boar, a gun without bullets and a dull knife. I don't care if its a part of the wardrobe, all my sgains have an edge, and one I can use.

And yes Hawk, you are a pansy...a great big, martial arts, kilt wearing, long haired, bass playing, head banging flower of a guy. How else you gonna explain that saffron kilt with the purple hose? And thats why we like you...even jumping into pools of mustard

[MartinW]

I wasn't sure about mine when I bought it, it has a blunt edge on it. Then, as I thought about it - I found I wasn't that bothered. Let's face it, its only for dress yeah! I mean I use a knife and fork now!!!! honest!

[JolyStNicholas]

I agree, I keep me sgain nice and sharp, some of those fst food meals are gett'n tough to chew.

Purple hose and pools of mustard??? I don wan to kno!!!!!

[Nighthawk]

I agree, I keep me sgain nice and sharp, some of those fst food meals are gett'n tough to chew.

Purple hose and pools of mustard??? I don wan to kno!!!!!

I have a pair of purple Lewis Rich kilt hose that I like to wear with my saffron kilt and my Albannach tartan kilt. Where the mustard came from... Well, that's Ted for you.

[Nighthawk]

As an old cowboy once told me; The three most useless items in the world are teats on a boar, a gun without bullets and a dull knife. I don't care if its a part of the wardrobe, all my sgains have an edge, and one I can use.

And yes Hawk, you are a pansy...a great big, martial arts, kilt wearing, long haired, bass playing, head banging flower of a guy. How else you gonna explain that saffron kilt with the purple hose? And thats why we like you...even jumping into pools of mustard

I just about fell over laughing when I read that!

And Ted... You are one strange fellow- which is why we like you.

So- onto the knife- I do know that a lot of people see them as nothing but another style of cufflink (figuratively), but I got this style because the blade is thick and strong. I fully intend to use it to gut fish. So it needed an edge.

[Old Hippie]

I got this style because the blade is thick and strong. I fully intend to use it to gut fish. So it needed an edge.

My reading about the portable armoury we call a Highlander is a little out of date perhaps, but as I recall the sgian dubh was essentially the equivalent of what many of us would call a "side knife." Side knives typically have short, sturdy blades and a profile that is more-or-less useful for a variety of daily tasks from cleaning one's fingernails to sharpening a pencil to cutting cord or perhaps opening the post.

The general profile I remember from my reading is a single-edged blade of spear-point silhouette, with an edge of either flat ground or convex ground. One source I recall mentioned that convex ground (like an axe blade) was preferred so that the knife would not stick in an opponent's ribs or breastbone if used as a last-ditch defence.

I have the impression from museum displays and such that the dirk and its accoutrements were much more often used for such things, considering the number of dirks with additional sheath space for small eating knives and forks.

So much for what we infer from depictions of traditional usage. Certainly I've seen sgians dubh in a variety of styles, and in the modern era we have the freedom to define and use such things in alternative ways. A nice short blade is useful for a lot of things from general cutting to cleaning the catch.

I don't find it odd to use it for that -- I think it'd be odder if someone showed up carrying the full panoply of lethal steel we hear in tradition: sgian, dirk, three dags, basket-hilt broadsword, claymore, Lochaber axe, and spiked targe.