Has carrying a sgian dubh ever caused anyone problems?

[Don Patrick]

Old Soldier,

We were not ignoring you, just got caught up in the excitment of the moment. Good story on the tatoos. Bet it ticked some of the NonCom's initially. But I image they got over it. A good excuse for a tatoo.

[Kid Cossack]

This is somewhat tangential, but it reminds me of knives and thus sgian dubhs (sgians dubh?). Once upon a time I was at the Warrior Club at 29 Palms, having a beer and a hotdog. Two officers came up to the table and invited themselves to sit down. I was reading a mammoth volume on Russia in the Second World War, and while I didn't mind the officers joining me, I wasn't done sitting there reading my book, either. Finally the junior officer asked about the knife under my blouse (we'd come in from the field earlier that day after a 3-day FX). It was your basic Mk1 Mod0 Ka-Bar. I told the captain that it wasn't a weapon, it was a field expedient MRE opener. He didn't like that. I finished my beer (figuring I was about to get kicked out) and told him it was a field expedient comm-wire splicer (which, in point of fact, it had been used for that very day). Then, fortuitously, LCpl Pedroza came by, and I deputized him to take the knife back to the hooch and ensure that it was properly secured. Then I read another chapter of my book, taking my time, out of stubbornness.

It was a bust on my part to take the Ka-Bar in with me---but I don't think of it as a weapon, and certainly didn't while I was actively wearing the pickle suit.

I've never had a sgian dubh cause me any problems, because after the Ka-Bar incident I'm leery of carrying fixed blades. I've got a series of old Case, bone handled pocket knives inherited from my father and his father before him, which I carry in my sporran instead.

I don't regard the sgian dubh as a weapon, but as a tool and a ceremonial one at that. Society does not always agree with my takes on things, and this is one of those cases.

That was never really a problem for me, although now that the O'Neille sgian has arrived, I suddenly have a craving to stick it in my hose and strut around with it!

[billmcc]

I've not had a problem wearing a sgian dubh in public, but most of the time I was wearing it with my pipe band uniform. Otherwise, I rarely wear one. Many kilt wearers consider it to be a semi-formal to formal accessory, not a casual accessory.

[David Dalglish]

With the new knife laws in The UK. it is not worth wearing a sgian dubh on a day to day basis, I only wear mine on formal occassions. I dont even wear a plastic one now.

[Archangel]

Knife laws are specific to your area. Find that out. Here, in Canada, I'm okay, never been hassled. It's sort of expected with a kilt. Visible knives are generally legal at the officer's discretion. (It's a tool until it becomes a weapon, who knows when that happens.)

Following the Hansard account of the debate in the UK, I had the impression the sgian dubh was, perhaps unofficially exempt. David Dalglish says different, I won't argue with him. He lives there.

The US has strange weapons laws and they vary from state to state. (I mean that in a nice foreign way.) Check with a local pipe band to see what experience gets away with before asking the police (who are the ones that really matter, besides your mom).

[Sir Robert]

Sad indeed.

[Riverkilt]

I can't imagine my being able to readily access mine if I really needed it. Tough enough to fish it out at the end of the day getting undressed. Seldom wear it though.

I was wearing one last year when I got pulled over in a Navajo speed trap last year after the Flagstaff games (I'm sure they just forgot to post that new lower speed limit). As any Hillerman fan knows Navajo police officers work alone with out much chance of back up so they are no nonsense folks - even to the point of once I was out of the car keeping their patrol car door between me and him.

I remembered it was on board and decided the best thing to do was to stand with it out of view of the officer rather than try to explain it to him. I was successful and it never became an issue. Don't know if I could have explained it to this officer - when he asked me why I was dressed like I was I told him I'd been at the highland games. He responded by asking who won.

Was able to explain the games to him by likening them to a Pow Wow.

Just doesn't seem worth the hassle these days. But I do own two and wear them when it seems appropriate - like highland games, a parade, or a memorial service outdoors.

Ron

[McClef]

With the new knife laws in The UK. it is not worth wearing a sgian dubh on a day to day basis, I only wear mine on formal occassions. I dont even wear a plastic one now.

I haven't come across any UK laws that impact on a sgian David - wear mine on a day to day basis and have never experienced any problem with the law officers.

[porrick]

Never had a problem. But, I have avoided situations where it might provoke.

I wear my sgian dubh at work (college), in and around town and dress occasions, but never to public places where alcohol is served

[Phil]

With the new knife laws in The UK. it is not worth wearing a sgian dubh on a day to day basis, I only wear mine on formal occassions. I dont even wear a plastic one now.

I have never had any problem. The knife laws David talks about specifically exempt these traditional weapons i.e. a sgian dhubh and probably a dirk as well. I'm surprised at USA attitudes - OK to pack a Smith & Wesson there but heaven help you if you have a tiddly knife in your sock. How do Sikh people manage over there as I believe their customs involve carrying some quite serious knives.