Sgian dubhs and Dress Codes

[OC Richard]

In Traditional Highland Dress, Is it expected or optional to wear the sgian dubh in your hose or boot? Would you be considered Improperly dressed without it?

If we're talking the modern Traditional Civilian Highland Dress which has come down to us, which became rigidly systematized in the early 20th century, yes, it's common to wear a sgian, a horn one for Outdoor Dress/Day Dress and a black one with silver fittings for Evening Dress.

Historically speaking, such a knife isn't seen in 18th century portraits, as best I can recall, and isn't universal in the Victorian period.

In the military they've long been worn by officers as one of their symbols of rank, and by pipers.

I rarely wear one.

Thing is, the first time I saw a piper in person, when I was a teenager, one of the things that I noticed was his sgian. And, when I used to go out to schools and various places to do piping performances the kids were always fascinated by my sgian. That was years ago. For many years now schools (and many other venues) have a "zero tolerance" policy with weapons, so when doing piping performances the sgian should be left at home.

I do have a fancy military style kit, and when I wear that (not often) I wear sgian and dirk. I have a sword too- haven't worn that in many years.

[Geoff Withnell]

I wear the sgian when i would carry a pocket knife in Saxon dress when i have pockets, and for much the same reasons, to have a knife at hand if i need to cut twine, slice tomato, or other such task. I have a few, to match the formality etc of my outfit. I don't wear one to religious services, or when there are security rules that interfere, and so forth.

[DyerStraits]

I wear the sgian when i would carry a pocket knife in Saxon dress when i have pockets, and for much the same reasons, to have a knife at hand if i need to cut twine, slice tomato, or other such task. I have a few, to match the formality etc of my outfit. I don't wear one to religious services, or when there are security rules that interfere, and so forth.

This is excellent, definitive guidance, and the same that I follow. Consider the circumstances and exercise discretion. One of my favorite quotes regarding firearms possession is from H. Ross Perot, who said that, as a boy growing up in Texarkana, "Everybody had guns, but nobody ever used them." As with all cutlery--and other similar implements--it's either a tool or a weapon, depending on the circumstances, and assuming you're keeping the right kind of company, it should only ever be the former, never the latter. As practitioners of the lethal Martial Arts say, "Always Have It, Never Use It". For a gentleman, a sgian dubhs is, and should be, little more than an ornamental accessory.

[Roderick Powell]

If we're talking the modern Traditional Civilian Highland Dress which has come down to us, which became rigidly systematized in the early 20th century, yes, it's common to wear a sgian, a horn one for Outdoor Dress/Day Dress and a black one with silver fittings for Evening Dress.

Historically speaking, such a knife isn't seen in 18th century portraits, as best I can recall, and isn't universal in the Victorian period.

In the military they've long been worn by officers as one of their symbols of rank, and by pipers.

I rarely wear one.

Thing is, the first time I saw a piper in person, when I was a teenager, one of the things that I noticed was his sgian. And, when I used to go out to schools and various places to do piping performances the kids were always fascinated by my sgian. That was years ago. For many years now schools (and many other venues) have a "zero tolerance" policy with weapons, so when doing piping performances the sgian should be left at home.

I do have a fancy military style kit, and when I wear that (not often) I wear sgian and dirk. I have a sword too- haven't worn that in many years.

I have spoken of my day wear eighties stainless blade and stag horn handled Sgian Dubh for day wear. Never actually noticed the wearing of a black sgian for evening wear.
The literal translation is the black knife, or concealed knife. Perhaps it was worn concealed in the early years of Victorian Photography. I understand it was later worn in the Kilt hose as a visible act of friendship. This disclosed if the gent was right handed or left handed. Never sharpened the blade on mine as it was dress wear.
For any form of work I would use a carbon steel penknife.
I have seen references to the complete set of personal cutlery worn together with twin pistols and Claymore and Targe.
The variations give a well armed Highlander. The arms in the armoury of Scotlands only private army are impressive.
My Drovers sporran was designed to carry my day's supply of porridge oats and musket balls. Roderick.

[nessy357]

Sgian dubhs were traditionally worn concealed , quite often in your left sleeve, and out of respect when you were visiting , you would put your sgian dubhs in your hose to show your guest "look nothing up my sleeve" so to speak.
Kind of ironic eh ?
Cheers Boaby.

[Jock Scot]

Sgian dubhs were traditionally worn concealed , quite often in your left sleeve, and out of respect when you were visiting , you would put your sgian dubhs in your hose to show your guest "look nothing up my sleeve" so to speak.
Kind of ironic eh ?
Cheers Boaby.

Traditionally the SD is worn in one's hose. Historically and perhaps even in the stuff of romantically inspired hearsay, the SD was more often than not worn under the arm pit. Although I think wherever the owner could carry it comfortably is probably more likely.

You know the SD is not and was not some sort of Ninja fighting knife although like anything else it could be used for dark deeds if there was nothing better to use. The SD was in reality more of a general purpose tool than anything else. These days there are far better and stronger designs about for a general purpose blade so whilst the SD can be used for light work and yes it is true it can be used as a weapon, this ninja stuff is really not in the equation.

[OC Richard]

The SD was in reality more of a general purpose tool

That's what I had always thought, that it was a pocket knife for somebody with no pockets, a utility knife, and not a weapon per se.

My old Pipe Major kept his sharp and used it to shave chanter reeds.

Strictly speaking, discussions of sginean should be held in the "kilt accessories" forum, rather than this, the "weapons" forum.

I brought up a similar incongruity with the forum which was called "the Gaelic languages" both because the title is self-contradictory, and because the forum was being consistently misused: discussions of all Celtic languages (not just Gaelic) were routinely placed in that forum by the Mods.

[Panache]

The truth is...


...no one really cares!

It is a personal matter. Of course be mindful of where you choose to wear a knife. A good rule of thumb is; If you are worried if a sgian dubh is appropriate or not at a certain venue...then don't wear one!

Cheers

Jamie

[Madadh]

I wear the Sgian dubh when and where I feel a knife would be ok. At work, they have a low tolerance for weapons so I wear a Sgian Brew instead. Something like this:

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I have fun with our guards when they ask about it. I tell them that you never know when you will come upon a miscreant long neck.


My 2 cents.

[DyerStraits]

Sgian dubhs were traditionally worn concealed , quite often in your left sleeve, and out of respect when you were visiting , you would put your sgian dubhs in your hose to show your guest "look nothing up my sleeve" so to speak.
Kind of ironic eh ?
Cheers Boaby.

An interesting (for those of us who are interested in social customs) variation on the handshake gesture, which of course has similar origins...