Strange hook

[Kinth]

Hello everyone,

A few years ago, a canadian friend of my family gave me bagpipes score sheets, his brooch, his Sgian Dubh, and his bagpipe practice, telling me that his son wasn't interested in his Scottish origins, and that he preferred to know that someone would use and care for them.

In the Sgian Dubh box, there was a strange hook, and I have no idea of what it is, so I thought there is maybe someone here that may know it's utility.

IMG_1231.jpg

Thank you for your help !

PS: for those who are thinking those are family items, I totally agree with this, and I'm planning to take them with me next time I go to Canada to offer his son to take them back if he wants.

[KiltedSurveyor]

I could be wrong, but I believe it is something to help button your spats.

[Father Bill]

It's a button hook. I'll bet there were spats to be done up. You stick it through the buttonhole, grab the button, and pull it through. My mother had a bunch of them exactly like that from her Gran back in the days when ladies' boots were high and buttoned.

... and if you use it, it makes you a "hooker!"

Surveyor, you hit the button before I did!

[Kinth]

Wow, quick replies, thank you !
I couldn't have guessed what it was.

... and if you use it, it makes you a "hooker!"

A hooker in kilt... i'll have to run from french single girls xD

[Tobus]

Agreed, it's a button hook. I have one exactly like it for buttoning my spats. They are IMPOSSIBLE to button without it. These were used extensively during the Victorian era by both men and women for buttoning their boots, spats, etc. It's not a distinctly Scottish item, as these were used all over. There are a lot of collectible ones out there.

[creagdhubh]

Agreed, it's a button hook. I have one exactly like it for buttoning my spats. They are IMPOSSIBLE to button without it. These were used extensively during the Victorian era by both men and women for buttoning their boots, spats, etc. It's not a distinctly Scottish item, as these were used all over. There are a lot of collectible ones out there.

***

[Kiltboy]

If you need more information about buttonhooks, consult the Buttonhook Society website for many example pictures. In fact, click the "Using" link on their page (the far left) for discussion, and a suprising Scot themed period advertisement.

[Macman]

OT, but I have a sgian dubh exactly like the one you have pictured; same box, too. My grandmother gave it to me almost 40 years ago and I treasure it for that reason.

[Kinth]

Well, it's possible that they were bought at the same place... The man that got it first had his initials engraved on it, and he must be around 70 years old, so this one must be around 50 years old.

[TheOfficialBren]

It's a button hook. I'll bet there were spats to be done up. You stick it through the buttonhole, grab the button, and pull it through. My mother had a bunch of them exactly like that from her Gran back in the days when ladies' boots were high and buttoned.

... and if you use it, it makes you a "hooker!"

Surveyor, you hit the button before I did!

Actually, Union General Hooker invited prostitutes into his camp for his men during the American Civil War. They called them "Hooker's Girls" which was shortened to "hooker."