Lets see historical Scottish weaponing...........

**Woodsheal** · 27th December 09, 10:53 AM

This is an armpit dagger (sgian achlais), made by Glenn McClain. It actually belongs to my wife, who uses it as a utility knife at reenactment events. It's well-suited to kitchen duties...!

**longhuntr74** · 28th December 09, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

This is an armpit dagger (sgian achlais), made by Glenn McClain. It actually belongs to my wife, who uses it as a utility knife at reenactment events. It's well-suited to kitchen duties...!

....all I can say is "I want one!!!!"

**Mr. MacDougall** · 5th January 10, 11:37 AM

How, precisely, does one wear such a knife? Is the name misleading, and it's worn at the belt?

**St. Amish** · 5th January 10, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

This is an armpit dagger (sgian achlais), made by Glenn McClain. It actually belongs to my wife, who uses it as a utility knife at reenactment events. It's well-suited to kitchen duties...!

This may be nitpicking or semantics, but "sgian" translates to knife, not dagger. Daggers are sharpened on both sides, and are typically tapered from the point on both sides.

Beautiful piece none the less.

**Woodsheal** · 5th January 10, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by St. Amish

This may be nitpicking or semantics, but "sgian" translates to knife, not dagger. Daggers are sharpened on both sides, and are typically tapered from the point on both sides.

Beautiful piece none the less.

You're correct; it's obviously a knife...!

It can be worn in the armpit, as the name implies. The hook (with the decorative waves) allows the sheath to be hung in the armpit opening of one's waistcoat, or in the coat sleeve.

My wife hangs it on a thin waist-belt when she's wearing it....

**Tobus** · 6th January 10, 05:42 AM

The hook (with the decorative waves) allows the sheath to be hung in the armpit opening of one's waistcoat, or in the coat sleeve.

I'm having a hard time picturing how that would work. Since the handle of the knife sticks out several inches past the end of the sheath (where the clip is), how could it hang from the arm hole of a waistcoat? I'd think the handle would be too long and be sticking up into your armpit, preventing you from being able to put your arm down.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 6th January 10, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

I'm having a hard time picturing how that would work. Since the handle of the knife sticks out several inches past the end of the sheath (where the clip is), how could it hang from the arm hole of a waistcoat? I'd think the handle would be too long and be sticking up into your armpit, preventing you from being able to put your arm down.

This perhaps the most perplexing question asked about the so-called "arm pit" dagger. Most serious students of Scottish arms are now coming round to the opinion that the knife propbably wasn't worn concealed in the armpit, but rather worn close to the body, possibly below the armpit. There is also a growing school of thought (to which I subscribe) that the sgian achles was more of a utensil than a weapon; in other words, while it could serve as a weapon, it was probably used primarily as a knife for cutting and eating food, or applied to other chores that would be unsuited to the much larger dirk commonly worn at that time.

**Mr. MacDougall** · 6th January 10, 02:14 PM

However it might have been worn, there's no arguing that it's a beautiful example! I love the sheath. It might be fun to mess about with it, and see how one could wear it. I have a renaissance doublet with button-on sleeves, and I find myself looking from the picture of the knife to the garment, and wondering....

**Woodsheal** · 6th January 10, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

This perhaps the most perplexing question asked about the so-called "arm pit" dagger. Most serious students of Scottish arms are now coming round to the opinion that the knife propbably wasn't worn concealed in the armpit, but rather worn close to the body, possibly below the armpit. There is also a growing school of thought (to which I subscribe) that the sgian achles was more of a utensil than a weapon; in other words, while it could serve as a weapon, it was probably used primarily as a knife for cutting and eating food, or applied to other chores that would be unsuited to the much larger dirk commonly worn at that time.

Well, having worn it hooked into my waistcoat's arm-opening dozens of time, I can assure you - it works just fine!

It's worn sloping, so that the blade portion of the sheath runs down under your arm towards your back, and the haft runs up the front of your shoulder rather flush against your body. It doesn't interfere with a coat worn over, either.

I'll just have to take some dang photos to illustrate...!

**Woodsheal** · 6th January 10, 03:23 PM

OK, I threw on one of my 18th C. waistcoats to demonstrate the wearing of an armpit knife. As you can see, no problem! And, once you don your coat (18th C. gents wore their coats and waistcoats simultaneously), that knife is well concealed. It could even be tucked under the edge of the waistcoat itself for further concealment....