How often do you actually use your Sgian Dubh?

[Nerts]

I love my Cold Steel sgian dubh! It has seen much action over the years. I also have a cheepy one that's a little more formal looking for when I need something with a bit more shine and a little less tactical.

E.

[Dale Seago]

It was once said by a former Pipe Major of the band, if you pull your Sgian duh, it better draw blood.

[thread hijack]
While I have no idea where that originally comes from, it seems to have become a common sentiment. A Bujinkan friend of mine residing in Japan told me a while back about some gaijin who showed up for training at my friend's shihan's class wearing a kilt -- for training!! -- including a (sharp) sgian in his stocking. (And no, it wasn't me! I spend most of my non-training time in Japan kilted but don't show up for classes that way, and I don't wear a sgian when I'm over there because it wouldn't be legal.)

For whatever reason, the instructor did allow this goofball to train. And of course he asked about the knife, whereupon said goofball showed it to him and explained that every time it's pulled it must draw blood; he then nicked his arm with it before sheathing it. The instructor smiled with great interest.

Word quietly but quickly spread through the training group and, over the course of the class period, most of them -- separately and individually -- went up to him and asked about the knife. By the end of class his arms and hands were covered with small cuts. And he never came back.
[/thread hijack]

[Sir Didymous]

I carry mine when ever I'm kilted or in medieval attire (tucked into the knot of my long belt). Yes I know that it isn't the least bit medieval, but it is such a well made and handy knife that I like it better than most of my pocket knives. I use it for everything from eating to regular tasks (with a cleaning in between). Once I was called into work from a kilted event and threw on a pair of those nasty bifurcated garments and was still wearing my kilt hose and flashes. I have grown so used to it being there that I forgot to remove it. When I got home and started to change is when I noticed that I still had it with me.

[creagdhubh]

I never actually use my sgian dubhs. They are all purely decorative, yet I suppose if I wanted to use them, I could.

[artificer]

I only have one, my treasured Drac-made Ironwood Burl. I've used it for cutting up a burger, a sausage roll or two and possibly peeling some fruit, and once as a dining implement for an insanely hot Scotch Egg, but I think that's about the extent of it.
I do keep it razor sharp though. Any knife worth having should be useable. Otherwise you've got a letter opener in your sock.
ith:

[rondo]

Perhaps I am the odd man out in this...I don't even own a sgian... if I did own one, I probably would never wear it or use it.
Rondo

[Sir Didymous]

Perhaps I am the odd man out in this...I don't even own a sgian... if I did own one, I probably would never wear it or use it.
Rondo

Your not odd, you just don't waist money on things you have no intent to use.

[tadyergey]

My formal sgain dubh is not even a knife. Just a handle and sheath molded into one. I do have a stag horn handled sgian that I recently purchased, though my son has hijacked it to wear with his kilt.

When I wear my xkilts or sportkilt i carry a pocket-like knife in my sock and I use that all time.

[Geoff Withnell]

Oddly enough, in some jurisdictions, the sgian is MORE legal than a pocket knife. Here in Maryland, forex, a sgian is undoubtedly legal, since there are no restrictions on an openly carried (visible) knife, while a pocket knife is concealed, and there are restrictions on concealed carry.

Sgian dubhs are nice. They look good with a highland outfit and I own (and have made) a number of them. That said I think a pocket knife is a far, far more useful tool than a sgian dubh. I have a trusty Swiss Army knife "Camper" model that I currently carry that does everything a sgian dubh can plus a lot more without worry about it being legal/appropriate where I go. Also for hiking, dancing, and other physical activity I have found the tightness of my flashes garter's required to hold my sgian dubh in place to be uncomfortable.

I wear them when "dressing up" (though to highland games I always bring my "sgian don't" bottle cap opener as it is far more useful ) but on the whole I find it is just easier and more comfortable to put a pocket knife in my sporran and leave my sgian dubhs at home.

Cheers

Jamie

[Sir Didymous]

Oddly enough, in some jurisdictions, the sgian is MORE legal than a pocket knife. Here in Maryland, forex, a sgian is undoubtedly legal, since there are no restrictions on an openly carried (visible) knife, while a pocket knife is concealed, and there are restrictions on concealed carry.

Here in Ohio it's the same on the open carry V concealed. My sgian is legal for both since the blade is within the 4in. or under criteria, so when wearing my moggans with the great kilt for a reenactment or demo, I tuck it between my kilt and my shirt and let the folds of the kilt hide the later period piece. Like I said I use it all the time.