How to draw the sgian dhub

[auld argonian]

When drawn correctly, a sgian dhub should produce an audible *schwing* sound and should visibly gleam. Anything else and you're doing it wrong.

Oooooh...they had those toy Lord Of The Rings replica swords like Frodo's Sting that had a little battery operated and motion sensored sound effects unit inside of them that mad those "schwing" noises when you swung them around. Maybe we can find a way to fit the mechanism into the handles of sghian dhubs (sghians dhub?) so that they sound equally authentic.

But could you imagine an Xmarks get together...schwing...schwing...schwing...schwing.. .

Best

AA

[dfmacliam]

When drawn correctly, a sgian dhub should produce an audible *schwing* sound and should visibly gleam. Anything else and you're doing it wrong.

I thought that is the famous Canadian sgians that made that noise...LOL.. the Waynes World Edition...LOL

[Old Hippie]

Is there a trick to pulling out the sgian dhub without the sheath coming out with it?

Simple. Go to the fabric store and buy a little piece of Velcro. Take the "hooks" part, cut a square piece, and either stitch it or glue it to the side of your sheath that will be against your sock. The sheath will now catch your sock and stay put. You will have to pull it out to resheath, but if you gotta have it right now it works. It's a trick that I've used before.

Stitching is best, but mostly you'd do that if you were making a sheath and could do it before final assembly.

You could use a longer strip of hooks, and then sew the leftover fuzz strip inside your jacket (or additional fuzz strips inside sweatshirts and casual vests, etc.). Handy way to keep your trusty blade nearby when you're not wearing kilt hose, as when you're being very casual and wearing crew sox and runners, for instance.

I ain't givin' away any more secrets.

:ootd:

[CMcG]

sghian dhubs (sghians dhub?)

Any Gaelic speakers may correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the correct plural might be made by adding a suffix to sgian: "sgianan dubh." In English, it would make sense to add the "s" in the same place, seeing as "sgian" means knife and "dubh" means black: "sgians dubh." But people should still understand perfectly well if you say "sgian dubhs" ;)

[WClarkB]

My understanding is that wearing the sgian in the hose was an act of confidence in the hospitality of a host and drawing it was thus a refutation of that gesture. Moreover, a sgian dubh was a concealed weapon of last resort and having the thing slip from its sheath easily would be at least improvident. Finally the routine wearing of it was invented by the military that now claims it is NOT a weapon.

Thus it seems to have operated according to specs

[bigdad1]

When drawing my sgain dhub I use two hands. I reach with my left hand to hold the sheath to my calf and then pull the knife with my right hand. All quick and easy. Reverse to return to the sheath. But when it comes to protecting yourself I would be very careful that you aren't bringing a knife to a gun fight. With the proliferation of weapons on the streets these days you aren't likely to be challenged to a duel. More likely when you confront someone with your beautiful and shiny sgain dhub you will receive a bright and shiny copper jacketed slug someplace that hurts a bunch. As as pointed out by someone else drawing a knife in Wallyworld might just end with you in cuffs and face down on the floor.

[thescot]

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.

This may be off topic, but I really like Grant's style and imagination.

But to Tobus's question . . . I should point out that all my sgians have thin leather sheaths that never come out of the sock. I have to dig them out to resheath, but I am quite capable of gallantly sweeping the knife elegantly from my hose by simply lifting my leg and grasping the handle. I can either grasp in a stabbing fashion--for effect--or in a tool-like-fashion to open my lady's envelope.


The stabbing effect is for the young fellows who wanted to check what was under the kilt after a party. (It was done in a humorous way, not in any way actually violent.)

Style is very important. No one wants to look like a goober pulling a knife.

You can go to Hobby Loggy and purchase a small piece of leather or the hide of the Nauga beast, a bit of vinyl lacing, and make a new sheath that will work.

[slohairt]

Simple. Go to the fabric store and buy a little piece of Velcro. Take the "hooks" part, cut a square piece, and either stitch it or glue it to the side of your sheath that will be against your sock. The sheath will now catch your sock and stay put. You will have to pull it out to resheath, but if you gotta have it right now it works. It's a trick that I've used before.

Stitching is best, but mostly you'd do that if you were making a sheath and could do it before final assembly.

You could use a longer strip of hooks, and then sew the leftover fuzz strip inside your jacket (or additional fuzz strips inside sweatshirts and casual vests, etc.). Handy way to keep your trusty blade nearby when you're not wearing kilt hose, as when you're being very casual and wearing crew sox and runners, for instance.

I ain't givin' away any more secrets.

:ootd:

Why not get adhesive Velcro? Affix one side to the sheath and the other to your leg! That way your sgian stays put even without hose!

[slohairt]

I would imagine that, 'back in the day', when people were duking it out arms extreme with sgians dubh, they pulled the 'weapon' out in one go; sheath and all. You would then toss the sheath aside, or perhaps throw it in your unsuspecting opponent's face! If you were victorious, you would have the time to hunt around for your tossed sheath. If you were vanquished, your opponent would spend the time looking for the sheath to his newly acquired second sgian dubh!

[Smayniac]

Slohairt, the velcro might hold your sheath in place, but I would think the wear and tear on your hose would be dreadful.

I recall in college a classmate came to an event kilted. While dancing to the B52s his sgian came out, but I don't actually recall whether the sheath came with it or not.

Bob