What exactly is a mattucashlass?

[Orvis]

I agree with Luke as far as the hideout knife was concerned. I, too, have a replica of this knife as illustrated in Wallace's "Scottish Swords and Dirks", p.77 (Luke, is your sgian one of Glenn McClain's blades? It looks very much like mine). With the scabbard worn hooked over the arm opening of a waistcoat (or secured within the sleeve of a jacket in some other manner), it would make a most effective concealed secondary weapon in case the Highlander were disarmed of openly-carried weapons. When I studied Gaelic, I never ran across the term "mattucashlass" for this weapon. I've known it as a "sgian-achlais" (armpit knife, from Dwelly's Gaelic-English Dictionary, p. 822). I also agree with Luke that the sgian dubh did not appear as an item of Highland dress (for those who could afford it) until the very end of the 18th century-beginning of the 19th century, and probably evolved from the gralloching knives carried by huntsmen. After all, who needed a little sgian dhu when one had a biodag (dirk) and maybe a sgian-achlais?

[tripleblessed]

I am not a scholar in this area, but I've carried knives for 65 years or more. In my working life it was not unusual for me to have four or more on me,
depending on the project and my various functions therein. As I have seen the term gralloching knife, it has usually applied to deer hunting, and having
never field dressed a deer, am unfamiliar with the size. As it was not legal (in my understanding) for the average guy to take a deer, he'd not need such.
He would, however, want a small blade to scale and gut fish and/or rabbits and other small game. Thus the sgian dhu. Maybe? I certainly would
never have thought of using something the size of a dirk or sgian achlais for fish; my pocket knife, or my mother's paring knives if I brought the string
back home before cleaning.

[Jock Scot]

I am not a scholar in this area, but I've carried knives for 65 years or more. In my working life it was not unusual for me to have four or more on me,
depending on the project and my various functions therein. As I have seen the term gralloching knife, it has usually applied to deer hunting, and having
never field dressed a deer, am unfamiliar with the size. As it was not legal (in my understanding) for the average guy to take a deer, he'd not need such.
He would, however, want a small blade to scale and gut fish and/or rabbits and other small game. Thus the sgian dhu. Maybe? I certainly would
never have thought of using something the size of a dirk or sgian achlais for fish; my pocket knife, or my mother's paring knives if I brought the string
back home before cleaning.

If you would like to PM me your email address I will send you a picture of my gralloching knife. I would post it here but rule 11 would be broken. Gralloching knives are not large and not a particularly special design, with a strong but sharp edged 2.5 to 4 inch blade and a heavy duty full tang, usually without a particularly pointed point. But like many things in life they vary in design and size and its down to personal choice more than anything else.

[McCracken140]

I have known of the “Sgian Achlais” as the predecessor of the Sgian Dubh for a long time. My understanding was that the old story of “when you go into a friend’s home, you put your Sgian into your hosetop so you’re not concealing your weapon” applied directly to the Sgian Achlais. IE, the first Sgian Dubhn were simply Sgian Achlais stuck in the hosetop. And they evolved to be a shorter shape from the longer skinnier shape to become the modern Sgian Dubh shape.

I have no sources, but that has long been my understanding of the origins of the Sgian Achlais and Sgian Dubh.

[tripleblessed]

If you would like to PM me your email address I will send you a picture of my gralloching knife.

Jock, what a kind offer. Thank you. I've not any space in my PM folder, but if you click on my user name above (where my avatar would be
if I had one) it allows you to click on the option of sending me an e-mail. I'll look forward to seeing it.

[Jock Scot]

Jock, what a kind offer. Thank you. I've not any space in my PM folder, but if you click on my user name above (where my avatar would be
if I had one) it allows you to click on the option of sending me an e-mail. I'll look forward to seeing it.

Tried that. Sadly there is no way, that I can see to send a picture to you. Now that could be my almost non existent technical knowhow being tested, I don't know. I am afraid I need an email address, then I know what to do!......... I think!

[tripleblessed]

Tried that. Sadly there is no way, that I can see to send a picture to you. Now that could be my almost non existent technical knowhow being tested, I don't know. I am afraid I need an email address, then I know what to do!......... I think!

My knowhow is limited as well, but I stumbled onto the e-mail link in the user name. It won't show my address, but will let you send "It's me",
or "Best laid plans". Your address is revealed to me as sender. That lets me reply to you, which then reveals my address to you. I'm pretty sure.
Don't you love how computers simplify and speed things up?

[Jock Scot]

My knowhow is limited as well, but I stumbled onto the e-mail link in the user name. It won't show my address, but will let you send "It's me",
or "Best laid plans". Your address is revealed to me as sender. That lets me reply to you, which then reveals my address to you. I'm pretty sure.
Don't you love how computers simplify and speed things up?

I did that. I sent you an email(I have just sent you another) , but no picture, by that "xmarks" system. Just a thought, you could delete some of the Messages in your PM “out” box and then you could then PM your email address. That should work?

[Luke MacGillie]

I agree with Luke as far as the hideout knife was concerned. I, too, have a replica of this knife as illustrated in Wallace's "Scottish Swords and Dirks", p.77 (Luke, is your sgian one of Glenn McClain's blades? It looks very much like mine). With the scabbard worn hooked over the arm opening of a waistcoat (or secured within the sleeve of a jacket in some other manner), it would make a most effective concealed secondary weapon in case the Highlander were disarmed of openly-carried weapons. When I studied Gaelic, I never ran across the term "mattucashlass" for this weapon. I've known it as a "sgian-achlais" (armpit knife, from Dwelly's Gaelic-English Dictionary, p. 822). I also agree with Luke that the sgian dubh did not appear as an item of Highland dress (for those who could afford it) until the very end of the 18th century-beginning of the 19th century, and probably evolved from the gralloching knives carried by huntsmen. After all, who needed a little sgian dhu when one had a biodag (dirk) and maybe a sgian-achlais?

This is one of Glen's and early one. I got it from him using my HS Graduation money! So its one of his earliest. He has borrowed it back from me more than once. Its been on the Cover of Muzzle Blasts, and I think also in Muzzleloader and the Contemporary Longrifle Association magazine.

[Orvis]

Beautiful knife, Luke. My sgian achlais is also one of Glenn's and I'm very pleased with it.