What type of sgian Dubh is worn in the Highlands?

[Jock Scot]

The SD was made by Hamilton and Inches (Edinburgh) and before 1937.

I find it interesting looking at the pictures of kilt wearers on this website, almost to a man you look so wooden. Just like those posed Victorian/Edwardian pictures of old that OCR delights in showing us. Alright, I quite understand that they/you are posing for a picture in one way or another and of course they/you want to put on their/your attire for best effect in front of a fairly critical audience. Lets face it, we are! And yes, that is a daunting prospect for most of us. In real life do we really put so much effort in perfection with our kilt attire? It seems many here do!

For those of us who wear kilt attire rather more naturally and thus, with rather more imperfections showing up. I often look at one of my pictures here and go, damn! The sporran is too low/high, the kilt is not straight, the kilt is too low/high, the hose aren't straight, the shoes could do with a polish and so on and I hope that I don't get more than two aspects wrong! Actually, after wearing the kilt all day with no mirror to hand its not surprising things have slipped a tad and these imperfections are perfectly natural. Particularly as little real thought is used in the first place when putting the kilt attire on earlier in the day.

On that note I had better beat a hasty retreat!

[Jacques]

I think that the SD was made by Hamilton and Inches (Edinburgh) and I think, before 1937.

I find it interesting looking at the pictures of kilt wearers on this website, almost to a man you look so wooden. Just like those posed Victorian/Edwardian pictures of old that OCR delights in showing us. Alright, I quite understand that they/you are posing for a picture in one way or another and of course they/you want to put on their/your attire for best effect in front of a fairly critical audience. Lets face it, we are! And yes, that is a daunting prospect for most of us. In real life do we really put so much effort in perfection with our kilt attire? It seems many here do!

For those of us who wear kilt attire rather more naturally and thus, with rather more imperfections showing up. I often look at one of my pictures here and go, damn! The sporran is too low/high, the kilt is not straight, the kilt is too low/high, the hose aren't straight, the shoes could do with a polish and so on and I hope that I don't get more than two aspects wrong! Actually, after wearing the kilt all day with no mirror to hand its not surprising things have slipped a tad and these imperfections are perfectly natural. Particularly as little real thought is used in the first place when putting the kilt attire on earlier in the day.

On that note I had better beat a hasty retreat!

You have helped me to remember when i first started wearing a kilt as a cadet(12 - 17 yrs old). i can recall checking myself over in the mirror before leaving and didn't see myself until i was home again. But during the day, if something was a bit off, often i could "feel" it. If that were the case i would re-arrange myself and carry on. And my first SD was loaned to me by a neighbour and good friend of the family who had served in one of the the British Army Highland Regiments before immigrating to Canada after WW2. Was always concerned about losing it and finally purchased my own after several months. And that one disappeared around the same time i was married. Come to think of it; i lost more stuff when i got married than i did when i divorced.

[KMCMICHAEL]

I am somewhat of a knife collector and do not posses a sgian dubh. I will not wear something without a functional blade. I like the idea of a beer opener or a shoe horn but I have not needed one as of yet. I suppose I should just get a scabbard for one of my deer horn knives.

[ShaunMaxwell]

I am somewhat of a knife collector and do not posses a sgian dubh. I will not wear something without a functional blade.

While I agree with the sentiment, there are plenty of sgian dubhs to be had with functional blades. You can search my username and the word “sgian” to see a few of mine.

SM

[OC Richard]

I find it interesting looking at the pictures of kilt wearers on this website, almost to a man you look so wooden. Just like those posed Victorian/Edwardian pictures of old that OCR delights in showing us.

But that's the thing, Jock: in many of those Victorian photos the men look so relaxed, so at home in their outfits.

As relaxed as they can be in the days of slow shutter speeds where you were required to hold still for a minute or more.

It's remarkable they can look as relaxed as the do.