How to draw the sgian dhub

**Tobus** · 18th November 09, 03:52 PM

My wife and I were driving home from the Scottish Festival and Highland Games on Saturday (a 3-hour drive from home). We stopped at Wal-Mart to visit with my step-daughter who works there. And my wife, being a typical woman (said with the utmost love and respect!) wandered over and found a purse she just had to have. So she bought it, and as we were coming out the front door, she wanted to cut the little plastic ties off of it.

So I think to myself, hey, I've got my handy sgian dhub on me, I'll whip that sucker out, cut the ties off, and be a hero. Now, I'm wearing my sgian dhub in the manner I understand is 'correct', where the sheath and about half of the handle are inside of my hose. It's an el-cheapo model mean to be fairly dressy, with a black plastic handle and plated thistle logo on the side, with a rigid (and metal-rimmed) sheath. It's not a tight fit necessarily, but there's some friction when you try to slide it out of the sheath.

When I went to pull my sgian dhub from my hose, it pulled the sheath out with it, with the blade about half exposed. So I had to then pull the sheath off the blade, cut the ties, re-sheath it, and stick the whole thing back in my hose. It was not the suave motion I had intended it to be. And here I am, imagining myself in a life-or-death situation, having to pull my sgian dhub to defend my life, and then having to screw around with the sheath that came out too, all awkward-like.

So is this common? Is there a trick to pulling out the sgian dhub without the sheath coming out with it? I would think that even if the sheath stayed in your hose, the blade coming out could possibly cut the wool fibers of the hose. By carrying it with half the handle in your hose, it seems that there's no winning when it comes to unsheathing it. Either the sheath is coming with it or you risk cutting your leg or hose.

Advice? It's a silly and possibly trivial matter, but I felt kind of foolish with the sheath halfway hanging off my blade in front of all the Wal Mart people.

**Jock Scot** · 18th November 09, 04:03 PM

It happens, I would not worry about it. In fact it is probably for the best as is saves all that poking about with a sharp point, trying to find your sheath inside your hose.

**CMcG** · 18th November 09, 04:15 PM

Yes, trying to re-sheath a sgian while the sheath remains in your hose can be a bit dangerous, despite the suaveness of pulling the knife out directly from your hose... proceed with caution!

Ideally, the fit of the blade in the sheath would either be tight enough to pull the whole thing out and then un-sheath in a separate motion, or loose enough that you can pull the knife straight out. I have two sgians dubh, one loose in the sheath and the other tight.

**Stravaiger** · 18th November 09, 04:17 PM

Of my two Sgian Dubhs, the older one with a leather sheath tends to leave the sheath inside my hose. The other, which has a wood lined sheath tends to bring the sheath with it. I'd agree with Jock - it's easier to have the sheath come out with the Sgian, rather than have to fish around in your hose to find it afterwards!

**auld argonian** · 18th November 09, 04:19 PM

It never works out as well as it does in the movies, does it?

But, seriously...and I say this with all due respect to the hard working people of America...are you really worried about cutting a dashing figure at Walmart? Actually, I'd be more worried about being tackled and wrestled to the ground by the security guards at my Walmart if I drew my snicker-snee but that's what I get for living in a way too urban area.

(Reminds me of that great quote from "The Lion In Winter": "Help! He's got a knife!" "Of course he has a knife...I have a knife...we all have knives! It's 1183 and we're all barbarians!")

I suppose that one could always rig up a band of some kind to hold the sheath immobile while the blade is drawn but in the case of us kilted types we already have an above average number of straps and belts and buckles to worry about already and that one might cut off the circulation in the lower leg resulting in your right foot "going to sleep" and how would that look? You'd be walking around shaking your leg saying, "It's allright...my foot just went to sleep, that's all. Be fine and dandy in a couple of minutes...". Now we have a kiltie with a half-unsheathed knife AND bad circulation!

Double stick tape?

Best

AA

**Wild Macrae** · 18th November 09, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

You'd be walking around shaking your leg saying, "It's allright...my foot just went to sleep, that's all. Be fine and dandy in a couple of minutes...". Now we have a kiltie with a half-unsheathed knife AND bad circulation!

Wouldn't that be a sight!

**Streetcar** · 18th November 09, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Tobus

...It's an el-cheapo model mean to be fairly dressy, with a black plastic handle and plated thistle logo on the side...And here I am, imagining myself in a life-or-death situation, having to pull my sgian dhub to defend my life, and then having to screw around with the sheath that came out too, all awkward-like...

If you really think you might need a sgian for a life-or-death situation, why would you choose an "el-cheapo" model? ;)

Seriously, there is debate about whether or not a sgian was ever intended as a weapon, or simply a utilitarian tool. (I'm of the opinion it's in the same category as a folding pocket knife).

Given that, a "fast draw" is hardly needed. Quite frankly, having the whole sheath come out is a much safer draw - and gives you a chance to show off the shiny metal embossments otherwise hidden in your hosetop.

Even if you are able to draw the blade while leaving the sheath in your hosetop, you won't be able to safely resheath without taking it out anyway.

Simply draw the whole thing, remove the sheath with the other hand and use the knife. Resheath and slip it back into your sock.

**ccga3359** · 18th November 09, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Streetcar

If you really think you might need a sgian for a life-or-death situation, why would you choose an "el-cheapo" model? ;)

Seriously, there is debate about whether or not a sgian was ever intended as a weapon, or simply a utilitarian tool. (I'm of the opinion it's in the same category as a folding pocket knife).

Given that, a "fast draw" is hardly needed. Quite frankly, having the whole sheath come out is a much safer draw - and gives you a chance to show off the shiny metal embossments otherwise hidden in your hosetop.

Even if you are able to draw the blade while leaving the sheath in your hosetop, you won't be able to safely resheath without taking it out anyway.

Simply draw the whole thing, remove the sheath with the other hand and use the knife. Resheath and slip it back into your sock.

I respectfully disagree, the sheath is to come out with the blade when used as a weapon, your victim's ribs will then release the sheath when drawing you sgian out. The sheath will remain imbedded so that it will fester cause excrutiating pain until the ultimate grusome death. That'll teach the vermin to call your kilt a "skirt" or to not ask the time.