Boyfriend's Christmas Present

[Catriona123]

Hi all, its my boyfriend and I's first Christmas together and I want to get him something nice and unusual. I was thinking about getting him a sgian-dubh because he's been talking about getting a kilt for months and I figure this will be a nice incentive.
Problem comes because we're both students and my budget isn't exactly huge, £60 is the maximum I could go. Is there anywhere you could recommend for a nice cheap sgian-dubh of reasonable quality in Glasgow? It doesn't have to actually function as a knife though, just a sort of ornamental one would be good.
Also do I have to be 21 to buy it (only 19)
Thanks very much

[Chas]

You could do worse than this:

http://www.stkildaretail.co.uk/view/...gian_dubh.html

I have one myself. It is a good 'boy's toy' as well as being a usable sgian dubh.

If you buy on line there is no question of age.

St Kilda Glasgow

3 St George's Place

St George's Cross

Glasgow

G20 7QB

Telephone: 0141 353 3400

Fax: 0141 353 3960

E: shop@stkildaretail.co.uk

Regards

Chas

[ForresterModern]

Picked up these two off ebay for what I considered a very reasonable price. Sorry, no pictures of my own ones yet, although they have made it inot the collection drawer. Nice blades and handles, simple but genuine, but the sheaths are a bit cheap looking (good thing those are hidden in your hose):

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-GENUINE-STAG...item3a604c1bc9

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-GENUINE-BUFF...item3a6084de4f

Nice quality, simple in appearences and not too stuffy, very casual, and the blades are quality and pre-sharpened. This vendor has several other varieties as well that may suit your fancy, but are definitely within your price range, even with overseas shipping.

jeff

[MacMillans son]

I have one from Comrie Crafts in Box Elder Burr that I am quite happy with.

http://www.scottishsgiandubhs.co.uk/

They have a nice selection of handle materials, and because they are made of natural materials, each one is unique. They have many styles in your price range and shipping is pretty quick. They are located in Pitlochry Scotland (not sure where that is in relation to Glasgow) so a visit might be possible for you as well.

Merry Christmas to you both!

[Riverkilt]

Think of stores who might sell knives for boys. The smaller knife made for a boy MAY make a great sgian dubh. Two of mine were marketed that way.

[CMcG]

Hi all, its my boyfriend and I's first Christmas together and I want to get him something nice and unusual. I was thinking about getting him a sgian-dubh because he's been talking about getting a kilt for months and I figure this will be a nice incentive.
Problem comes because we're both students and my budget isn't exactly huge, £60 is the maximum I could go. Is there anywhere you could recommend for a nice cheap sgian-dubh of reasonable quality in Glasgow? It doesn't have to actually function as a knife though, just a sort of ornamental one would be good.
Also do I have to be 21 to buy it (only 19)
Thanks very much

There are many more options if you're willing to buy online... and I believe you only need to be 18 to buy a knife in the UK. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

But how about this £25.00 sgian from Slanj in Glasgow?


They're having an ex-hire sale there just now too, which boasts some excellent deals. Might be worth talking to your lucky man's parents or friends to see if anyone wants to chip in:
http://www.slanjkilts.com/Latest/Sla...Hire-Sale.html

[Catriona123]

Thanks for the advice, though chats with friends have thrown up tons more questions so sorry :S
1) Have any of you ever been hassled for wearing a sgian dubh?
2) One of my friends recomended a plastic one that he wouldn't get issues with police etc with but another friend instantly saying what's the point, you shouldn't fake it. What's your opinion of a plastic one?
3) To be honest the main places he'd wear his kilt would be at ceilidhs and rugby matches (weddings aren't exactly on the cards yet) so is there any point wearing one then?
4) My dad thinks I should maybe get him a sporran instead, as men (I'm assuming) would you typically hold either gift in higher regard than the other
5) If I do get him a sporran it'd be one of the non dressy leather ones with sort of a celtic knot embossed on it (as thats the type I like best) but I'm not sure of the 'rules' if there are any, do certain sporrans go with certain tartans? (He's getting a glasgow uni tartan kilt so its mostly blue with yellow bits)
Sorry for so many questions and the huge post but thank you so much for the advice

[ohiopiper]

Questions about sgian dubhs and sporrans:

The amount of hassle you get for wearing a sgian is directly related to the locale you are in. Just as an example, there are places just a few hours drive from my doorstep where wearing a handgun openly is commonplace. Doing that in my hometown here would find me facedown on the pavement explaining myself to the nice police officer. If hassle may be in the cards, opt for the "safer" gift of a sporran.

As for sporrans, they are generally divided into two categories, daywear and eveningwear. What you describe is daywear and may be more suitable for his use of the kilt. Eveningwear sporrans generally have a portion of metal on top called a cantle and are often fur rather than leather.

[lethearen]

I think that the sgian dubh has been declared part of national costume and therefore not actually a weapon in the UK, as long as he doesn't actively brandish it. So I wouldn't think he'd get any hassle with it in his hose. But not being local to you, I wouldn't take my word as gospel

Check out this link for some ideas: Heritage of Scotland daywear sgian dubhs. They have a wide range of sgian dubhs in several different styles in the £30 - £60 range, including VAT.

Still, a sporran may be a more useful gift. He can get away without a sgian dubh, but a sporran is a bit closer to "required", be it for storage or modesty.

[EagleJCS]

Another option would be what we (jokingly) refer to 'round here on the forum as a sgian don't. That would be an implement/tool with a handle that looks like a sgian dubh, but has something else instead of a blade. Examples include a bottle opener (a.k.a. a sgian brew), a comb, a shoe horn, or anything else relatively short and flat that won't damage the kilt hose.

Since he'll be wearing the kilt in more casual situations to start with, elim (lethearen) makes a good point (as did your dad) that a sporran would probably be more useful/appreciated. Since there are no pockets in a trad. kilt, the stuff guys carry around in their trouser pockets has to go somewhere. An inexpensive leather sporran, in any color, would be the way to go. If you explore the site further, you'll see there are a wide range of opinions, but very few hard-and-fast rules about one's accoutrements (everything that goes with the kilt).

In answer to one of your other questions, I've never been hassled over wearing a sgian dubh, but I also think ahead about where I'll be and sometimes opt to go without. I'm almost never without a sporran, though. (Can't recall a time I was out and about without one, actually).