Sgian dhu II

[David Thornton]

OK Mike, with my inspiration and your skill we should be able to come up with something!
Do you want to build your Kentucky cousin (also McDonald) a sgian?
Come on down to Paducah this weekend and we'll plan.
David

[David Thornton]

Take a look at this one, is the blade configuration also incorrect?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rantanen-Custom-...ayphotohosting

I did notice a lot of variation of blade in the modern sgian. And please explain the reference to stag handles as all indication is that early sgians were predominantly stag.

David

[Mike S]

Hi David,
The second Ebay Dagger is O.K. for a sgian, but is again too small IMHO. All neck knives are going to be diminutive by design, and for that amount of money, you can find a nice quality sgian without having to "adapt" if from another knife form.

The reason I mentioned the stag horn, is because some are under the belief that Sgian Dubh referred to the knife's handle having to be made from Scottish Black Oak, or a similar dark wood, when in fact it meant a concealed knife. Obviously since many early Sgians DID have Stag handles, the dark color idea is dead in the water.

I'd love to make one for you were I at a level of skill I felt comfortable laying in the lap of others, however I am at the "grind the blades from steel blanks" stage, and not the supreme "forge the blade" level, which is what you would want for an heirloom quality art knife. Someday!

[Panache]

This has been an interesting thread. I feel that the sock knife adds to the whole kilted look. My wife bought me a sgian dubh for Valentine's Day. It's the Oxhorn one from the Scottish Tartan Museum store (Thanks Matt!). The handle is classy, subtle, and I love it. But when I thought about wearing it for everyday use I had some concerens about carrying it. Especially since one of my daily trips is to take my son to kindergarten. My solution was to cut a piece of hickory (a part of a hammer handle) and sand and shape it into a knife handle. I drilled a hole in it, stained it, and then used expoxy to set a small black comb into it. I finished it with a small silver and blue tie tac set into the handle. It certainly is light years away from the beautiful handles Rab Gordon makes, but as Mercutio said " 'tis enough, 'twill serve ".
I get the look of a sgian dubh without the worry about metal detectors or if it is or isn't legal. I'll save my oxhorn one for appropriate occassions and use my "Sgian Don't" (as my wife has nicknamed it) the rest of the time.

You know with the remaining piece of wood I should try to make a bottle cap opener....

[KiltedKnight]

Okay folks, now I'm going to blow your mind. As far as some "laws" go there's a good chance that they are not laws at all but only "codes". I won't go into detail unless the moderators here will allow it but firstly, a case from the Supreme Court of the state of Washington, (not Washington D.C., they have nothing to do with us), called "Self v. Rhey" found that "code" was not law. So there is argueably no crime since there is no law that is broken for violating a "code".
There is also a case from the Supreme Court of the United States called "Yick Wo v. Hopkins" that states that we as Sovereign flesh and blood men and women, (that is very important; flesh and blood), are not subject to the law which is called "code". These are interesting reading especially since the government uses a lot of "terms" which are not words. In law the "terms" person and individual generally mean corporations and the government uses these terms to confuse us into thinking that some of these codes have something to do with us.
As strange as this may sound it's true. Find out if the law in your state is actually a law or a code that has nothing to do with you and remember, if you allow the courts to fool you into admitting to be subject to these codes they'll gladly take your money.

Chris.

[Mike S]

Hi Kiltedknight,
While your edification concerning the distinction between Codes and Laws is fascinating and enlightening from an academic point of view, unfortunately it is moot when officer "doing his duty" pulls you over, and either arrests you for carrying an "unlawful", or unlawfully concealed weapon, or at the very least confiscates your costly family heirloom away from you and ruins your day.

I actually know a well known antique weapons dealer who was pulled over for a tail light out, and detained for hours because he was transporting some two and three hundred year old bladed weapons secured in his trunk on the way to a Sothebys Militaria Auction! The blades were worth tens of thousands of dollars, but Officer means well wasn't buying it.(I can just imagine storming into Fort Knox brandishing a 200 year old French Officer's Sword, I mean really).

Arguing the point via an attorney in a court of law some days later is up to the discretion of the individual and certainly your prerogative (albeit a costly one), but I think most of us would like to avoid either scenario!

[auld argonian]

Mike S is telling us this story about the sword collector and in the meantime I'm seeing goofy teenage boys running around at the Highland Games with massive broadswords (and these were not antiques...) strapped to their butts...? "Pull over there, junior....what have you got there...okay, Braveheart, where's the battle?"

And I would just like to point out another product that Cold Steel makes...their plastic "skean dhu" that will theoretically get through the metal detectors...lots of laughs there...just what I want to see! Couldn't they model it after something else?

Best

AA

[KiltedKnight]

Hi Kiltedknight,
While your edification concerning the distinction between Codes and Laws is fascinating and enlightening from an academic point of view, unfortunately it is moot when officer "doing his duty" pulls you over, and either arrests you for carrying an "unlawful", or unlawfully concealed weapon, or at the very least confiscates your costly family heirloom away from you and ruins your day.

I actually know a well known antique weapons dealer who was pulled over for a tail light out, and detained for hours because he was transporting some two and three hundred year old bladed weapons secured in his trunk on the way to a Sothebys Militaria Auction! The blades were worth tens of thousands of dollars, but Officer means well wasn't buying it.(I can just imagine storming into Fort Knox brandishing a 200 year old French Officer's Sword, I mean really).

Arguing the point via an attorney in a court of law some days later is up to the discretion of the individual and certainly your prerogative (albeit a costly one), but I think most of us would like to avoid either scenario!

I think all of us would agree that we'd like to avoid either of these scenaios but as the old saying goes; "If you don't stand up for your rights you don't have any rights" Personally, I would have swamped Officer "Means Well" with so much paperwork and charges that he would certainly remember that people have those rights and he is still a public servant.
When you let these officials walk all over you they will continue to do it just for something to do. I once had a friend who, at a shooting range accidentally, (stupidly), shot himself in the hand with my pistol. The police responded along with the paramedics and tried to "Confiscate" my pistol. Reason? It had been 'involved in a shooting'. Okay, give me a receipt and I'll be down tomorrow to pick up my gun. No, they didn't have any receipts. I said "Then you don't take my gun" and they left without my gun. Point? The cop was trying to steal my pistol and since there were a lot of people withnessing my demand for a receipt they decided to just leave.
My point is this; once you start questioning their authority they generally change their tune. What law was being violated by your friend by transporting swords? I'll bet you can't name one.
Thanks for the soap box.

Chris.

[Iolaus]

Okay folks, now I'm going to blow your mind. As far as some "laws" go there's a good chance that they are not laws at all but only "codes". I won't go into detail unless the moderators here will allow it but firstly, a case from the Supreme Court of the state of Washington, (not Washington D.C., they have nothing to do with us), called "Self v. Rhey" found that "code" was not law. So there is argueably no crime since there is no law that is broken for violating a "code".
There is also a case from the Supreme Court of the United States called "Yick Wo v. Hopkins" that states that we as Sovereign flesh and blood men and women, (that is very important; flesh and blood), are not subject to the law which is called "code". These are interesting reading especially since the government uses a lot of "terms" which are not words. In law the "terms" person and individual generally mean corporations and the government uses these terms to confuse us into thinking that some of these codes have something to do with us.
As strange as this may sound it's true. Find out if the law in your state is actually a law or a code that has nothing to do with you and remember, if you allow the courts to fool you into admitting to be subject to these codes they'll gladly take your money.

Chris.

So,KK, you live just a few miles away from me; is that the situation in California?

[KiltedKnight]

So,KK, you live just a few miles away from me; is that the situation in California?

Absolutely. There is more going on in California than in most states. Fraud by the government. You work, you pay an income tax that you are not liable for but did you know that on top of that, the "Personal Income Tax" that was instituted in 1935 in California was repealed in 1943 to take effect in 1945? It's in the law libraries but most people would rather grab that six-pack and watch the ball game than do anything about it. Did you know that there is no law in effect that creates a liability for most Americans to pay any income tax?
I know this is an off the wall post but remember this; the men that wrote our Constitution and tried to make sure that we were free from oppressive government wore KILTS! Read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, most of the names are Scottish.
If anyone thinks that I'm wrong just try to find a law that makes you liable for a tax that the Supreme Court has ruled many times applies to corporations and anyone working in a priviledged position.
I won't draw this out any further on X-marks unless by special permission of the moderators but anyone can contact me personally, I'm happy to share what I and many others already know.

Chris.