Protecting Kilt Hose from Sgian Dubh Damage.

[Braw Cathairneach]

My kilt hose was damaged by my sgian dubh sheath tip. A proper metal chape might help, but I found it more expedient to hand sew a stiff Velcro patch to the lower end of the leather sheath. The yet unproven theory is that the stiff Velcro patch will not penetrate kilt hose as would a narrow sheath tip. The hook side is intended to help keep the sgian dubh from sliding down into the kilt hose. The concept needs yet to be tested at a kilted event.

[Braw Cathairneach]

Sorry about the overly large photo. The photo was properly down-sized on the draft but defaulted to the overly large photo when submitting the post.

[Highland Logan]

That's an idea. I went simple and straight to the point. I had my wife monogram a white handkerchief, and use this folded, with the sgian inside. This keeps it off my leg, and protects the hose. No need to mod my stuff.

Frank

[ThistleDown]

Do you know, I've been wearing a sgian for something like 70 years and have never had a hose issue?

Some of mine have brass or silver sheath fittings, some have just leather. I suspect, if you are having problems, they have more to do with your hose than your sheath.

All my hose over all those years have been hand-knit from wool. I do recall one pair I had, and probably still have, where the tip of the sheath protruded, I guess because of the looseness of the knit. I think I liked that bit of personal bling.

What I would like to pass on from all those years is: if you value your hose more than your sgian, then don't wear a sgian.

If, on the other hand, your sgian is valued and important to you, find hose that will match that value and last at least your generation.

[Tobus]

I have worn a sgian dugh with a sheath similar to the one in the photo above for many years, and never had a problem with the tip. I do wear hand-knit hose with a rather loose knit compared to commercial hose, and still no problem. Did this incident occur when you inserted it into your hose, or at some point during the day whilst walking?

My first approach to solve the issue would have been to round the tip of the sheath a little more with an Xacto knife (or razor blade) and burnish the edges so that they are smoother.

Another question to consider is whether the sheath is laying flush to your leg. Most sgians should have the handle flattened or tapered on one side so it will ride smoothly against your leg, without standing "proud". The sheath should, then, lay flat on your leg. If it's not, then perhaps the antler handle could be ground down a little better on the leg side (and then polished) to help it sit better. And last but not least, if the tip of the sheath has any curl to it due to it being slightly too long for the blade, then I would consider shortening the sheath at the handle end so that the blade is pretty nearly bottomed out in the tip of the sheath. That, plus, reducing the amount of leather outside the stitching (and rounding/burnishing it) should reduce any issues.

[Braw Cathairneach]

I have worn a sgian dugh with a sheath similar to the one in the photo above for many years, and never had a problem with the tip. I do wear hand-knit hose with a rather loose knit compared to commercial hose, and still no problem. Did this incident occur when you inserted it into your hose, or at some point during the day whilst walking?
The damage occurred at some undetermined point during a kilted event. Everything was proper when I kilted up.

My first approach to solve the issue would have been to round the tip of the sheath a little more with an Xacto knife (or razor blade) and burnish the edges so that they are smoother.

Another question to consider is whether the sheath is laying flush to your leg. Most sgians should have the handle flattened or tapered on one side so it will ride smoothly against your leg, without standing "proud". The sheath should, then, lay flat on your leg. If it's not, then perhaps the antler handle could be ground down a little better on the leg side (and then polished) to help it sit better.

Your suggestion to flaten the inboard side of the sgian dubh handle has merit. The handle is 3-dimensional on both sides. Fortunately my son and grandbairns will soon visit me from Alaska for the holidays. They are adept at working with antlers and ivory.

And last but not least, if the tip of the sheath has any curl to it due to it being slightly too long for the blade, then I would consider shortening the sheath at the handle end so that the blade is pretty nearly bottomed out in the tip of the sheath. That, plus, reducing the amount of leather outside the stitching (and rounding/burnishing it) should reduce any issues.
The blade is bottomed out, fully extending into the tip without any curl.

And again, Thank you as well as the other respondents for taking time to analyze and opine.

[Jock Scot]

Do you know, I've been wearing a sgian for something like 70 years and have never had a hose issue?

Some of mine have brass or silver sheath fittings, some have just leather. I suspect, if you are having problems, they have more to do with your hose than your sheath.

All my hose over all those years have been hand-knit from wool. I do recall one pair I had, and probably still have, where the tip of the sheath protruded, I guess because of the looseness of the knit. I think I liked that bit of personal bling.

What I would like to pass on from all those years is: if you value your hose more than your sgian, then don't wear a sgian.

If, on the other hand, your sgian is valued and important to you, find hose that will match that value and last at least your generation.

Exactly my thoughts and experience as well.

[DustyBoots]

I've had nary an issue with my sgian dubh marring or otherwise catching on kilt hose, even with the economy and colored hose in the lower end of the quality range (most I could afford at the time) from USA Kilts. My sgian dubh is featured somewhere around here on a post from about this time last year maybe, and is a simple antler and blackwood hilt from Ullapool Box Creations. A very nice blade indeed, and I love it. I have noticed that at work when I pull it out for use in cutting wrappers from liquor bottles or other small tasks (I'm a bartender), or in educational "show and tell" moments with patrons, that the sheath tends to stick to my leg and remain in my hose. It seems the sheath is worn loose. However, I recently purchased the materials to make several sgian dubhs from Rainnea, and the sheaths are double thickness and of very high quality. I'll be ordering a spare for my existing sgian dubh so that it grips the blade better and would slide out of my hose if I take the knife out for use.