Sgian Dubh

[macwilkin]

Ham, have you ever seen the sgian dubhs that have additional tools hidden in the handle? Avance highland and some others sell them and claim that they were modelled after an officer's sgian dubh from the Crimean War. I've not been able to find any corroborating evidence on that fact. Your thoughts?

Glassman, I've searched and searched for any documenting evidence about this particular style of sgain dubh, and I can't find any evidence for it. It could very well be true, but I do reside in Missouri, so you'll have to "Show-Me" before I totally believe it.

It certainly wasn't in the Crimean War, though. My theory is that if it was based on the Swiss Army Knife, which was first issued to the Swiss in the 1890's, then it couldn't have been issued in the Crimea, since that was 40 years before! The South African (Boer) War or even the First World War, possibly.

Cheers,

Todd

[mattexian]

I know I'm a little late on this...
Like another Texan here, I'm glad of where I live, the laws allow anything single-edged and no more than 5.5 inches blade length. That said, I've been told (by folks not knowing any better) that my Cold Steel Mini Culloden (a modern Skean Dhub) is illegal as it is a dirk. I tried arguing that at best it is "dirk-shaped" but is too small to be a true dirk, but got nowhere with that fool. (Funny bit is that Cold Steel actually sells a Dirk, over a foot long!) (Texas case law established an exception for "Bowie-shaped" knives if they meet the other allowances, while a real Bowie knife is illegal, as it is much longer than 5.5"!) I do find it amusing that British law allowed knives "as part of a national costume" while forbiding them for nearly everyone else. (At least, that was how I understood the law there a few years back, I don't know if that gone with the latest crackdowns.)

Matt in Texas

[Robin]

Today I went to work kilted...

Parked my car a few blocks away and walked to my work....just before I got there a police car came to a halt with smoking tires. 2 stressed out police officers jumped out...hands on their gun.

I've been a policeman myself, so I knew something serious must have happened...well...it was me they where looking for

They told me someone had called the police...a guy wearing a "scottish skirt" had a dagger tugged in his sock.

I started to laugh...and showed them my sgian dubh. The policemen didn't knew what to do...my huge smile made them feel a bit uncertain...in the end they decided to do nothing...

I'll go to a police station and ask for a weapon permit...blades are not legal, but I know you can get a license to wear a dagger or even a sword when it's part of a "traditional outfit".

To be continued...

[John M.]

Robin, you know they think your going to go postal with that most deadly of little knives.

Don't you know that thing can stab clean through a school & kill all the children?

Hope you can get the authurization you need. Also hope whoever paniced & called the police grows-up & stops being so uptight. Sheesh.

[Robin]

Ah well...I work next to the American embassy...they guard the place with great zeal...roadblocks, big guys with big guns, snipers on the roofs...the lot.

Hmm...I picture myself...charging the embassy...kilted...with my sgian dubh...screaming funny things like "I want the head of MacClard!!!!"

[Southern Breeze]

Robin, I always thought the people over there were peaceful and law-abiding citizens. I think the kilt has unleashed your inner Highland Warrior.

[Robin]

I had a great day!....kilted.

A stroll kilted is never boring

[GMan]

Robin,

What a great tale! I am sure you gave some excitement to their lives as well.

[Sherry]

Ah, that Highlander machismo infiltrates even into The Hague!