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  1. #1
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    Do you know, I've been wearing a sgian for something like 70 years and have never had a hose issue?

    Some of mine have brass or silver sheath fittings, some have just leather. I suspect, if you are having problems, they have more to do with your hose than your sheath.

    All my hose over all those years have been hand-knit from wool. I do recall one pair I had, and probably still have, where the tip of the sheath protruded, I guess because of the looseness of the knit. I think I liked that bit of personal bling.

    What I would like to pass on from all those years is: if you value your hose more than your sgian, then don't wear a sgian.

    If, on the other hand, your sgian is valued and important to you, find hose that will match that value and last at least your generation.

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  3. #2
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    I have worn a sgian dugh with a sheath similar to the one in the photo above for many years, and never had a problem with the tip. I do wear hand-knit hose with a rather loose knit compared to commercial hose, and still no problem. Did this incident occur when you inserted it into your hose, or at some point during the day whilst walking?

    My first approach to solve the issue would have been to round the tip of the sheath a little more with an Xacto knife (or razor blade) and burnish the edges so that they are smoother.

    Another question to consider is whether the sheath is laying flush to your leg. Most sgians should have the handle flattened or tapered on one side so it will ride smoothly against your leg, without standing "proud". The sheath should, then, lay flat on your leg. If it's not, then perhaps the antler handle could be ground down a little better on the leg side (and then polished) to help it sit better. And last but not least, if the tip of the sheath has any curl to it due to it being slightly too long for the blade, then I would consider shortening the sheath at the handle end so that the blade is pretty nearly bottomed out in the tip of the sheath. That, plus, reducing the amount of leather outside the stitching (and rounding/burnishing it) should reduce any issues.

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  5. #3
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    Thank you for taking time to analyize and opine.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tobus View Post
    I have worn a sgian dugh with a sheath similar to the one in the photo above for many years, and never had a problem with the tip. I do wear hand-knit hose with a rather loose knit compared to commercial hose, and still no problem. Did this incident occur when you inserted it into your hose, or at some point during the day whilst walking?
    The damage occurred at some undetermined point during a kilted event. Everything was proper when I kilted up.

    My first approach to solve the issue would have been to round the tip of the sheath a little more with an Xacto knife (or razor blade) and burnish the edges so that they are smoother.

    Another question to consider is whether the sheath is laying flush to your leg. Most sgians should have the handle flattened or tapered on one side so it will ride smoothly against your leg, without standing "proud". The sheath should, then, lay flat on your leg. If it's not, then perhaps the antler handle could be ground down a little better on the leg side (and then polished) to help it sit better.
    Your suggestion to flaten the inboard side of the sgian dubh handle has merit. The handle is 3-dimensional on both sides. Fortunately my son and grandbairns will soon visit me from Alaska for the holidays. They are adept at working with antlers and ivory.

    And last but not least, if the tip of the sheath has any curl to it due to it being slightly too long for the blade, then I would consider shortening the sheath at the handle end so that the blade is pretty nearly bottomed out in the tip of the sheath. That, plus, reducing the amount of leather outside the stitching (and rounding/burnishing it) should reduce any issues.
    The blade is bottomed out, fully extending into the tip without any curl.
    And again, Thank you as well as the other respondents for taking time to analyze and opine.
    Semper Paratus

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  7. #4
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    I always found that the scabbard on my sgian was a very tight fit on the blade. If I tried to draw the sgian, the whole thing would come out of my hose instead of just the blade. My garters couldn’t hold the scabbard tight enough. So, I just glued a couple narrow pieces of the ‘hook’ piece of Velcro to the scabbard side that faces the hose. Now, I don’t have that problem, and the blade is still very secure in the scabbard.
    “The convents which the fathers had destroyed...the sons, rebuilt…”
    —Hereward the Wake, ‘Of the Fens’

  8. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by McCracken140 View Post
    I always found that the scabbard on my sgian was a very tight fit on the blade. If I tried to draw the sgian, the whole thing would come out of my hose instead of just the blade. My garters couldn’t hold the scabbard tight enough. So, I just glued a couple narrow pieces of the ‘hook’ piece of Velcro to the scabbard side that faces the hose. Now, I don’t have that problem, and the blade is still very secure in the scabbard.
    Leather? Place in water, wedge in object, such as butter knife etc., which is slightly.. and I do mean slightly, to stretch the leather. Let dry naturally. Problem solved. Stretched too much? Soak, replace sgian, apply heat from a low heat source, such as a hair dryer. Best in a box to capture the heat, allowing you to not use direct heat. Feels tighter? Still warm? Place to the side to continue drying naturally.

    As example above, no need to mod your kit.

    Frank
    Drink to the fame of it -- The Tartan!
    Murdoch Maclean

  9. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Highland Logan View Post
    Leather?

    Frank
    No, while it’s still ‘made in Scotland’ it’s all just cheap plastic. Although I was able to grind a decent edge on the blunt blade, if I do say so myself.

    I’m of the opinion a sgian should be practical or not worn at all. What’s the point of a dull knife, or worse a knife with no blade?
    Not to say I don’t appreciate the ornate decorations of some. But I think, if you’re carry a blade it ought to be useful to be justified. This also means that I should be able to draw it in a pinch without any fooling about.


    🎵🎵 I want to pull it out
    Most certainly without
    Any dumb fooling about 🎵🎵

    Sorry for the slight thread derail lol
    “The convents which the fathers had destroyed...the sons, rebuilt…”
    —Hereward the Wake, ‘Of the Fens’

  10. #7
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    Sheath quality

    This is an issue which I have long thought could crop up sooner or later and I my first thought has always been that if a sgian or its sheath can damage my hose then its just as likely to damage my leg. I have a small collection of sgians - all with polished horn or wood hilts and my most recent purchase was not from the usual sources but from a Sheffield knife-maker. The quality of the leather sheath that came with this sgian is impressive - heavy thick leather, sturdily stitched, and gripping the blade reassuringly firmly. This made me realize that the sheath on my oldest sgian was now in comparison more akin to an old sock. By coincidence the blades were of identical size and shape and the Sheffield company were happy to sell me another sheath for my old sgian - I feel secure again.

    Another sgian of mine is similar to the one shown above by OC Richard - it has a scabbard of polished horn with sterling silver fittings and it has some kind of internal mechanism which retains the blade. In addition to cleaning it receives a close inspection for any rough edges or little barbs every time I wear it as I wish damage neither to hose nor to leg. However, as OC points out, it can be worn with a plain leather sheath - who's going to know?

    It's worth re-emphasizing some points made by others - a sgian hilt should be shaped to lie flat against the leg. The garter should be gripping the hilt, not the sheath and the sheath should grip the blade tightly otherwise they most certainly will part company with the sgian flying out (to become lost) or the sheath dropping down inside your hose in which case a surgeon might be required to repair your leg.
    Last edited by Dr Bee; 17th November 19 at 06:06 AM.

  11. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by McCracken140 View Post
    No, while it’s still ‘made in Scotland’ it’s all just cheap plastic. Although I was able to grind a decent edge on the blunt blade, if I do say so myself.

    I’m of the opinion a sgian should be practical or not worn at all. What’s the point of a dull knife, or worse a knife with no blade?
    Not to say I don’t appreciate the ornate decorations of some. But I think, if you’re carry a blade it ought to be useful to be justified. This also means that I should be able to draw it in a pinch without any fooling about.


    🎵🎵 I want to pull it out
    Most certainly without
    Any dumb fooling about 🎵🎵

    Sorry for the slight thread derail lol
    Just remember, this is supposed to be a utility knife, the equivalent of the pocket knife or jack knife. I've never had a need to ".. should be able to draw it in a pinch without any fooling about". I'm sure this is just a phrasing issue. But it's 2019; this board is pretty strict on certain talk and topics; and folks in Scottish dress have been in trouble with the law in Canada for wearing a sgian in public. No one needs to draw a strictly ceremonial blade "in a pinch".

    Frank
    Drink to the fame of it -- The Tartan!
    Murdoch Maclean

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  13. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by McCracken140 View Post
    If I tried to draw the sgian, the whole thing would come out of my hose instead of just the blade. My garters couldn’t hold the scabbard tight enough.
    With most sgians, they should be worn far enough down in the hose that the garter is holding the handle, not the scabbard. If the garter is just holding the scabbard, there will be a lot of handle poking out the top, and the balance will be off. Generally speaking, you should only have the last inch or two sticking out of the hose. At most, half the handle.

    I'm of the opinion that the scabbard should come out with the blade. Otherwise, when you put it back in, you have to either fish the scabbard out, or try to gently guide the blade back into a hidden opening, whilst trying to hold the scabbard from pushing further down into the hose and trying not to catch the hose with the tip of the blade.

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  15. #10
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    For sure sginean that have this sort of sheath (which many do) can be problems



    It's happened to me.

    The sheath mount has sharp bits that beg to be caught on the threads of the hose.

    What I did was to wear my vintage sgian with a new plain leather sheath, which had nothing to snag.
    Last edited by OC Richard; 16th November 19 at 05:52 PM.
    Proud Mountaineer from the Highlands of West Virginia; son of the Revolution and Civil War; first Europeans on the Guyandotte

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