Question about wearing a sgian dubh

**Skweres** · 26th March 07, 12:23 PM

i tend not to wear mine, unless its a formal event and i want the whole look, other than that i just keep a leatherman in my sporran

**Nick** · 26th March 07, 01:03 PM

A sgian is like any other kilt accessory, like sporrans or belts. Some are dressy and some are plain. If all you have is a formal sgian, it may not be the best thing to wear with daywear, but a plain one is certainly appropriate.

A while back someone posted a picture of a sgian and sheath here, where the back piece of the sheath had a narrower flap that extended up between the handle and the leg. Perhaps that would be more comfortable?

**thescot** · 26th March 07, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Martin S

Is there not a motto somehwere :
"Kilts are garments, not costumes" ?
(Paraphrased from memory)

Would you wear sgian dhus with trousers or shorts?
If not, why wear one with a kilt? . . .

Martin

When I wear trousers, I always carry a clip in the front pocket because it's a very handy tool. Basically it's a small pocket knife I can open with one hand since I often have something in my other hand when I need a knife. For the same reason, I always carry a sgian dhu. And wear a sporran, etc. It's part of Scottish attire.

For usual daily wear, I have a very light sgian dhu with a thin bone handle that is not particularly uncomfortable. It may leave a slight indentation, but so do my regular socks since ankle and leg swelling is a common problem. The sgian dhu I carry has an usually good blade that holds an edge, and the bone handle can't be more than 1/4" or so think.

**PiobBear** · 26th March 07, 01:20 PM

I wear sgians quite a bit; they never bother me except for my antler one with a big corona; that can start to become irritating by the end of the day.

**Caradoc** · 26th March 07, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Skweres

i tend not to wear mine, unless its a formal event and i want the whole look, other than that i just keep a leatherman in my sporran

I occasionally carry a Gerber multi-lock in my sporran, but it weighs about twice what any of my sgians weigh. I use a blade a lot more often than I use pliers, anyway.

**KiltedKnight** · 26th March 07, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by bubba

I never carry a sgian, they aren't legal here. To be legal a blade has to be less than 3 inches and cannot be fixed. Only folding knives with a blade under 3 inches are legal unless it's an essential tool for your job. They wouldn't make an issue of a sgian if it was part of an outfit for a special occasion though. There is still a certain amount of discression left.

I'm sure that if you'll look up whatever restricts you from carrying a particular blade you'll find that it's only a local code and codes are only written to define government and control slaves. I seriously doubt that any state would be so stupid as to pass any law against it.

Here in Los Angeles they have some local codes against carrying certain types of knives but it is easily beaten in court, (if it even gets that far), since codes do not apply to flesh and blood men and women.

An interesting read about the authority of codes is a Supreme Court ruling from 1886 called "YICK WO vs. HOPKINS". Anything the Supreme Court decides is law-much more powerful that any code.

Chris.

**Highland Logan** · 26th March 07, 10:51 PM

I had my wife monogram a handkerchief with her initials, and I place it in my hose between my leg an the sgain dubh... works like a charm. No slippage, and no pain, or indents.

Frank Logan

**Kiltedfirepiper** · 26th March 07, 11:32 PM

if you stand for long periods you will tend to get more of an indentation due to the blood pooling in your legs ( edema) everyone gets it ...its just to what degree if its really noticable or not. ( remember how they always say to mesure your foot several times throughout the day to get an acurate mesurement for shoe size? )

the way my legs are shaped I have kind of a flat spot in front of my calf ( more lined up with the knee cap than the rt. side ) that the Sigan fits nicely into and there is less "denting"

try to move it to different spots on your leg... theres no hard fast rule that I know of that says it HAS to be perfectly aligned with _______ and _____ to look proper as far as I know its like everything else....where, and how you want

KFP

**LK-13** · 27th March 07, 12:04 AM

you may also want to consider that if your socks or hose also leave impressions i your skin,
you maybe dehydrated.
just a possibility.

**PiobBear** · 27th March 07, 05:43 AM

To be legal a blade has to be less than 3 inches and cannot be fixed. Only folding knives with a blade under 3 inches are legal unless it's an essential tool for your job.

FYI: Wisconsin Criminal Code 941.23-4 only refers to gravity knives & switchblades, and carrying concealed weapons. No mention is made of blade length or fixed v. folding blades. I'm not a lawyer; so feel free to research it yourself.