Sgian dubh carry

[Slag101]

As MoR has said, common sense would seem to suggest that if you're traditionally attired, it should be a non issue. However, black powder weapons are illegal in New Jersey. The report I read on the law stated that the reasoning behind the ban was that they are caseless and that makes them harder to track in the cases of crimes committed using them. When was the last time a 7-11 clerk reported being held up by someone with a brace of pistols? And in Colorado, there is a law still on the books regarding the number of cattle that can be hearded at any one time over certain bridges. 100 years ago, it was a worthwhile law. Now...?

Common sense and laws don't always coincide. Check with the local authorities.

Black Powder weapons are not illegal in NJ. There was a possible ban due to the terminology of a law that did not pass. They tried to deem assault rifles by caliber only. This would have banned all black powder rifles of 50 cal or greater. That stopped as soon as they realized it would hurt tourism because rev war, civil war, etc. reenactors would be unable to use the weapons of the time periods.

[Geoff Withnell]

In general, our Western (not talking cowboy, btw) culture increasingly views a visible potential weapon as a indicator of potential mayhem. If there's nothing visible, there's no potential for mayhem, right?

Also worth keeping in mind, though a sgian dubh is generally quite small and approximates the folding pocket knife I carry on the strap of my gym bag (actually, the sgians I've seen are smaller), the mystique surrounding it seems to get in the way of common sense...so as Nighthawk and others have said, exercise your own common sense regarding its wear, as others' sensibilities may be lacking!

Leave the dirk at home unless you're on parade, reenacting, carving meat, etc...it's a weapon, and unless you're deployed, its purpose is poking holes in the wily Highland Haggis!


I suppose, if you thought you were being unfairly targeted for your sgian dubh, you could always try holding up a 7-11 with a brace of cattle, just to make a point...but I personally think it's easier to wear a sgian dubh only when particularly appropriate or acceptable (YMMV)...or just stick a pocket knife and bottle opener in your sporran, so as not to cause an untimely stampede of the two-legged cattle . I recall at one point in college I walked to karate practice carrying a bo, or maybe it was a jo, I don't remember...got a lotta static from the hippies, as I recall. I wasn't running around beating up phone booths like that guy from Police Academy, I was just a guy carrying a stick that looked like a weapon. It probably would've gone over better if I'd replaced the jo with a Louisville Slugger, see what I mean?

-Sean

Actually, in many areas (My home state of Maryland included) a knife other than a switchblade or dagger is perfectly legal carried openly. Conceal it, and you had better have a Concealed Weapon Card.

Geoff Withnell

[Red Stag]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I wear a tan Utilikilt to work because it complies with our dresscode. I don't have a traditional kilt yet as I am slimming down and have been wary of the kilt because of an allergy to wool which I seem to have outgrown a bit. I do wear a sgian dubh to work and most people don't know what it is, including my managers. Some of the male managers know and don't seem to care. I had a customer ask me what it was today and he thought that it was cool. If anyone is wondering I do have a PA License to Carry (word I won't mention because I broke rule 11 once). NJ was more of a concern for me because of all the bad stuff I hear about them trampling citizens' rights. What if someone said that it was part of their religion? (I know its a stretch.)

Luke 22:36 "And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one."

[bigdad1]

You have received lots of different advice in the above posts. Some of it quite technical and some very scholarly. But in the end it is just advice from people you don't really know who are posting on an on line forum and who have no personal stake if you should be arrested. Or worse. In the end it seems to me that if you want an answer you can trust you should get on the phone to the areas you are concerned with and get an answer from the people who could arrest you. And, if it comes to it, you might consider taking an example of a Sgian Dubh to them for an on the spot decision.
Just my humble opinion.

[Red Stag]

You have received lots of different advice in the above posts. Some of it quite technical and some very scholarly. But in the end it is just advice from people you don't really know who are posting on an on line forum and who have no personal stake if you should be arrested. Or worse. In the end it seems to me that if you want an answer you can trust you should get on the phone to the areas you are concerned with and get an answer from the people who could arrest you. And, if it comes to it, you might consider taking an example of a Sgian Dubh to them for an on the spot decision.
Just my humble opinion.

Maybe it would be better to show a picture of the sgian dubh instead of actually bringing one in case they would decide to arrest me.

I have already heard of people,who already knew that something was legal, asking the police if thus and such was legal just to see what the police would say, and were told that thus and such was illegal. My local sheriff's dept. forced me to put my SSN on my LTCF application and other 2A folks told me that was a violation of the 1974 Privacy Act. I was also overcharged for my LTCF which is a summary offense, it is actually in the law what they are allowed to charge. I'll e-mail the PD jsut to see what they say. If they say yes then I can carry the e-mail with me if I choose to. From looking at the laws it would seem that I would be alright. But as some of us know, some LEO's enforce their own opinions and not the law.

[Whidbey78]

You have received lots of different advice in the above posts. Some of it quite technical and some very scholarly. But in the end it is just advice from people you don't really know who are posting on an on line forum and who have no personal stake if you should be arrested. Or worse. In the end it seems to me that if you want an answer you can trust you should get on the phone to the areas you are concerned with and get an answer from the people who could arrest you. And, if it comes to it, you might consider taking an example of a Sgian Dubh to them for an on the spot decision.
Just my humble opinion.

That's exactly what was said before...ask a cop. And trust me...knowing that it's legal or not in a state means diddly if the city you're in has laws against it. The state can say yes, but the city can still say no, just as the state says alcohol can be sold but the town is dry.

Always know the LOCAL ordinance on top of state. New Orleans got a rather pricey little piece of hand made heritage from me, and I hate the thought of someone else getting the same treatment because the town they go to doesn't allow it. And a local cop--not some guy--should know and be able to give good advice. That's what they do.

I've been burned because "some guy" knew it was legal where we were. We got out of the car somewhere else and found out that more than the zip code had changed.

As far as being told something legal is not by law enforcement, think of it this way...one of two things will come of it--either the state has not outlawed it but the city has, or the officer or department may be misinformed. In the case of the latter, you would still be cited, maybe even arrested, then the charges would be dropped, but your evening, weekend, whatever, is still ruined. In the case of the former, you have been advised properly even though you THINK state laws always count. Avoid the hassle. When I re-enlisted I had a really hard time explaining a weapons charge, even though the charges were dropped.

Is a night in a holding cell worth it? It sure wasn't for me! If in doubt...leave it at home.

[DeWayne Ross]

Here is a link to a listing of knife carry law by state. http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USKnife.pdf

Pennsylvania and New Jersey are both on page two.

Geoff Withnell

This is a great resource.
There is also www.findlaw.com were you can look at the actual verbage of state law, United States Code (USC), or Code of Federal Regulation (CFR).
It will not only tell you of the legality it will also tell you the severity-vio., mis., felony and so forth.

If there is any question in your mind, never trust someone that says "well this is what I think". If you ask a cop hopefully it isn't a rookie that may have a limited knowlede of the law, or a old salt with personal pet peeves.

Don't rely on someone else's "interpretation" of the law.

Look it up your self, read it yourself, understand the the verbage.
Knowledge is power.............

[dfmacliam]

Why wear a sgain with a UK anyways? It's not a traditional sort of kilt, made for more of a casual setting, why try to dress it up as a traditional kilt? It really serves no purpose other than decoration, and if you need a backup weapon, there are better places to keep it, and more handy.. It's just my opinion, but I see people putting far more effort in looking a part, while it's not really required...

[Monkey@Arms]

I am sorry but I never recommend getting legal advice from a law enforcement officer. Knife laws are often oddly worded, and many myths and biases abound, even sometimes in the law enforcement community. (Before anyone gets too upset, I used to be part of that community.) 'Nuff said.

Best regards,

Jake