Sgian Dubh Outside the Hose?

[piperdbh]

I smell a challenge for our metalsmiths and leather crafters: a little loop of metal or leather attached to the back of the knife sheath, through which a garter would pass before being tied 'round the leg. Hmmm...

[The Wizard of BC]

Actually the one I saw had the spring clip on the outside of the sheath. The Sgain went between the hose and the garter and clipped onto the garter at the knot.

Sort of like a holster or cell phone belt clip on the outer side of the sheath.

[Cygnus]

I had a customer come into the shop with an antique Sgain that had a spring clip on the outside of the sheath. The Clan Crest was mounted on the clip. Exactly like the one shown here.

I was wondering what the clip was for. I had thought that it would clip to the top of the hose but this makes it perfectly clear.

Sadly I did not take a photo.

I really wish you had been able to get a photo - various internet searches haven't shown anything so far.

Like I said, I actually like the way it looks (whether traditional or not) and would like to see the real thing before deciding if I want to pursue having one made or modifying an existing sgian dubh.

Maybe somebody else on here has one or has pictures of something similar...

[Tobus]

Surely it would do a lot of flopping around like this? It can't be practical at all without a second tie-down point, can it?

[artificer]

The process to "outrig" a sgian would be quite elementary. Spring clips are available at wilderness outfitters and Tandy leather. A pop rivet would be the crudest way to attach it, but quite simple.

The clan crest in an appropriate size might be a bit more difficult, as I imagine one much larger than a US/Canadian quarter would be overwhelming on the hose.

Perhaps finding the source for crests in the size mean to fit IN the handle of a sgian might work... I wonder if Gaelic Themes could assist.

[MacLowlife]

I have a cheap boot knife with a clip on the sheath, but it strikes me as even more likely to pull your sock down- or require you to tie your garter awfully tight.

There is a physics problem hidden here somewhere: Does a knife IN your sock exert more or less downward force than one clipped to the top of your sock?

I recognize that it could be hooked only to the garter, but then you have the additional problem of it flopping around. I suppose you could pass the garter through a couple of slits like some belt sheaths have, but it seems wrong to me, just wrong and troublesome...

[davidlpope]

The process to "outrig" a sgian would be quite elementary. Spring clips are available at wilderness outfitters and Tandy leather. A pop rivet would be the crudest way to attach it, but quite simple.

Do you really want to explain to everyone (and I mean everyone) at your next Burns Supper that "yes, I know my sgian dubh is on the outside of my hose...yes, I know that most people don't wear it that way...well, you see, there's this drawing, and..."?

[artificer]

Do you really want to explain to everyone (and I mean everyone) at your next Burns Supper that "yes, I know my sgian dubh is on the outside of my hose...yes, I know that most people don't wear it that way...well, you see, there's this drawing, and..."?

Well, no, I don't. I was just extemporizing on the basic simplicity of the problem at hand. I prefer mine IN my hose, castellated or not.

Also, I have no clan crest to solder to the outside face of the clip, so it would just look like I've got a knife in my sock, rather than a sgian.

Someone's always got to be a wise guy
ith:

[madmacs]

There is a physics problem hidden here somewhere: Does a knife IN your sock exert more or less downward force than one clipped to the top of your sock?

That actually sounds more like an engineering problem... The downward force is im guessing techically the same... Mass x gravity... But if it's in your sock its only really got the lever arm above the sock trying to tip it over, but if it's pivot point on the outside, then that's not the case... But it's been 20 years since I had to do that stuff in school, so i'll leave it for a proper Engineer to answer... I can make water go uphill though...

[artificer]

That actually sounds more like an engineering problem... The downward force is im guessing techically the same... Mass x gravity... But if it's in your sock its only really got the lever arm above the sock trying to tip it over, but if it's pivot point on the outside, then that's not the case... But it's been 20 years since I had to do that stuff in school, so i'll leave it for a proper Engineer to answer... I can make water go uphill though...

There is also the friction of the sheath against the hose / skin to factor in, especially when compared against a "free floating" tether of just a garter and clip.

Luckily, I passed out of AP Physics in high school, and don't have much to do with it any more. I'll leave THAT up to my more skilled betters.

ith: