How to draw the sgian dhub

[Bugbear]

The voice of the little, tiny Macmillan of Rathdown in my head is saying, "the sgian dubh was originally a skinning knife..." And some other things...

[slohairt]

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

I think the wear and tear on your leg hair from the Velcro adhesive would be worse! In any case, it wasn't my suggestion.

Seriously, though, I would never recommend Velcro (or any adhesive) having anything to do with kilt hose. The damage would be dreadful over time.

[nagod]

when i wear garters/flashes they hold the top of the sheath securely enough so that sheath is secure when i draw..maybe my drawing style or choice of knives was a bit of luck..

[auld argonian]

If I may be serious this time...the "relationship" between the knife and the sheath has something to do with it. A well used and worn sheath would be a bit looser and smoother than a brand spanking new one and that would make it easier to draw smoothly. I'd also suggest that there are materials that are grippy without being as abrasive as velcro...maybe something that would be attached to the "skin side" of the sheath so it would grip against your leg and not the sock. I'm thinking of some of the suede-y textured materials...

Best

AA

[Tobus]

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.

Well, this is Texas. Folks are more likely to laugh at my tiny knife than to think it's a threat. Most of us here are legally carrying concealed pistols anyway. My comment on using it in a knife fight was said half in jest. My trusty 1911 in .45acp is generally my weapon of choice (although it's sure hard to fit it in a sporran!).

I do not normally frequent Wal-Mart; no offense to those who do, but I just can't stand being there. They have nothing I want and I feel out of place. The only reason we were there was to visit my step-daughter who we rarely get to see. Which is why it made it all the more embarrassing to me to have an awkward moment in front of the Wal-Mart people.

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).

Heh, like I said, it's not my primary mode of defense and my comment was mostly in jest. But being a practical person, any knife I carry should be functional and non-awkward when using it. I normally carry a Crawford Folding Falcon in the back pocket of my p@nt5, and can draw it and flick the blade open with a smooth motion for normal everyday tasks.

When funds allow (wearing a kilt gets expensive quickly!), I intend to have a local knife-maker create a custom stag-horn sgian dhub for me, and I'll make my own sheath for it. The el-cheapo model was just to get me started. It works fine for what it is intended for - it has a decently sharp blade - I just need to learn to get it out of my sock smoothly.

Seriously, though, I would never recommend Velcro (or any adhesive) having anything to do with kilt hose. The damage would be dreadful over time.

Agreed. I'm not a fan of velcro anyway, but I don't want it anywhere near my kilt hose. These dang things cost way too much to be messing up with velcro.

when i wear garters/flashes they hold the top of the sheath securely enough so that sheath is secure when i draw..maybe my drawing style or choice of knives was a bit of luck..

Are you wearing your sgian dhub with the entire handle sticking out? When I put mine in my hose with only half the handle exposed, the garter ends up around the handle with the sheath underneath. I'd need to build a second (internal inside my hose) garter specifically for the sheath. But then it would be awkward trying to re-sheath the sgian dhub since I'd be unable to pull the sheath out first.

Thanks, gents, it looks like you've answered my main question. At least I know it's not just a problem I'm having. Sounds like it's all over the map. Maybe I'll just try oiling the blade and running it in and out of the sheath enough times where the friction is low enough that it doesn't pull it out too. It's either that or tighten the sheath up by bending the metal lip very slightly with pliers so that it grabs it tighter and comes out with the knife. But this business of pulling the sheath out, half-dangling off the blade is ridiculous.

[Kerr the Walker]

You could wrap a rubber band around the sheath a few times to give it some added friction without messin up your kilt hose too badly.

Re-sheathing is still just as much of a PITA though.

[cavscout]

Real simple solution.

A garter tie whether elastic or tied will hold the sheath in place quite well. As to the re-sheathing, make up a molded sheath for the knife that will keep the sheath open and accessible at the top of your hose. Get the tip in the opening and slide it in all with one hand.

Elastic Garter strip is within the folded cuff of the hose top.

[Tobus]

Wow - that looks great. So it appears that you've made the sheath to cover not only the blade, but part of the handle too?

The one I have is this. It's a hard sheath that only goes to the end of the blade. Should I make a new sheath and ditch the old one, or make a 'sheath adapter' (for lack of a better term) that acts sort of like a bayonet frog and gives me a leather upper sleeve as a guide to the lower sheath?

[cavscout]

I'd scrap the old sheath and just make a complete new one (especially with your access to leather ) You wouldn't have to come up very far. Maybe just cover the bolster would be enough.

My knife in the photo is very top heavy and came with a stock, short sheath. The higher sheath gives support and the molded sheath protects my hose from accidental slashes and keeps it rock solid in my hose. It doesn't have to be very tall, just past the center of gravity does the trick.

You could get away without a molded sheath but the benefits are so great, molded is the way to go (IMHO) .

[Tobus]

Fantastic. I like it. I usually wet-mold all my leather stuff anyway, if it's something that's intended to hold a particular item (be it pistol, rifle, knife, cell phone, camera, or what-have-you), so that shouldn't be a problem at all. I'll probably do some decorative tooling and/or stamping on the sheath too, even though it won't show.

Even a simple basket-stamp on the sheath will give it rigidity (it compresses the leather fibers, which was actually why people started doing it, aside from the decorative aspect) as well as additional friction against the hose.