Sgian dubh on the inside

[carlb]

I actually don't think it would be that uncomfortable to wear on the inside of the leg, as long as it was on the opposite leg you normally wear it on. For example, I'm right-handed, so on the outside of the right leg would be where it normally goes. If I were to wear it otherwise, it would be on the inside of my left leg. It would be much easier to reach there than inside the right leg.

When I first got SCUBA certified, I used to wear my dive knife (or BFK) on the outside of my right leg, where it was easy to reach. Someone pointed out to me that, on the outside, it was easy for the knife to get caught on fishing line, or vegetation or some such thing, and that I really ought to wear it on the inside. That made sense, so I switched, and promptly lost that knife. And the next one. I don't carry a BFK anymore.

[Computergeek]

when I was young and learning to bow hunt we always work a knife on the inside of the leg it was less likely to catch on brush as you were trying to stalk close enough to get a clear shot. In the forest you have to be very close to your intended target and anything that catches or hangs on stuff or makes noise would be a problem.

[Urchurdan]

Thinking it out logically, the sgian dubh started out as the sgian achlais (achlais = oxter or underarm knife), this is meant to be how it became known as a black knife - it was a hidden knife. One of the previous posters was correct, the wearing in the stocking is a relatively new thing. I don't believe the earlier wearers would pay attention about which leg - or the side of the leg it was stuck down when using it in the field. This like most of the other protocols we work to would come about with Victorian Regimentation.
I would also agree that it started out as a skinning knife. The skinning name I believe comes from the plural for sgian - sgiannan which sounds like it is pronounced skinning.
This BTW answers a previous post, when someone asked the plural of sgian dubh, it is sgiannan dubh.

[Kiltman]

Sounds like myth to me too. Like McMurdo I've never seen one on the inside of the leg.

[Chas]

I claim no great knowledge of knives, but the shape of the blade of the sgian dubh just does not seem right as a skinning knife. I have watched skinning being done and a different 'curved back' cutting edge strikes me as being better. If the sgian dubh was a skinning knife, it must have been very awkward to use and cut many holes in the hide.

Regards

Chas

[Urchurdan]

I claim no great knowledge of knives, but the shape of the blade of the sgian dubh just does not seem right as a skinning knife. I have watched skinning being done and a different 'curved back' cutting edge strikes me as being better. If the sgian dubh was a skinning knife, it must have been very awkward to use and cut many holes in the hide.

Regards

Chas

I would agree with this too, but it is generally believed that the present spear point shape is also a reatively new progression, I know that many earlier blades have almost a 'bowie' shape, possibly it used to resemble more closely a modern concept of a skinning knife? Who knows, as i said, most of the things we wear now, and how we wear them arose in later Victorian times.It is indeed believed that Colonel Bowie had the inspiration for his blade design from this early sgian, but maybe some of the knife aficianados can help us here?

[dfmacliam]

i read somewhere today that the sgian comes from the gralloch knives..

A second theory holds that the sgian dubh evolved from the small skinning knife that was part of the typical set of hunting or gralloch knives. Some of these do exist. There is usually a butchering knife with a blade of 9-10 inches and a skinner with a blade of only 3 1/2-4 inches. These gralloch knives usually had antler handles, and so do not fit the term black in either color or carry. This theory does have two points in its favor, however. First, many early sgian dubhs are fitted with antler or horn handles. Secondly, the skinning and butchering of wild game after the successful hunt was usually undertaken by the upper-class hunter's ghillie, literally "boy" in Gaelic, as in serving boy. The huntsman would not stoop to such work. It may have been a hangover of this attitude that had officers in the military regiments resist the carrying of sgian dubhs, as they were initially considered fit only for "ghillies and serving rascals."

this is from an article by Joe D. Huddleston

a reference to being an example existing also refers to no examples exist of the arm pit knife.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

First, many early sgian dubhs are fitted with antler or horn handles. Secondly, the skinning and butchering of wild game after the successful hunt was usually undertaken by the upper-class hunter's ghillie, literally "boy" in Gaelic, as in serving boy. The huntsman would not stoop to such work. It may have been a hangover of this attitude that had officers in the military regiments resist the carrying of sgian dubhs, as they were initially considered fit only for "ghillies and serving rascals."

this is from an article by Joe D. Huddleston

a reference to being an example existing also refers to no examples exist of the arm pit knife.

Where may one obtain copy of Mr. Huddleston's article?

[Highland Logan]

Where may one obtain copy of Mr. Huddleston's article?

MoR here's a link to Joe D. Huddleston. And just an observation. I noticed a few people refering to the "on the inside of the leg" as a "myth". It seems that only the origional poster and the person who told them are the only two to have ever heard of this before. So it would seem more as disinformation, rather than myth.

Frank

[Pleater]

That might explain why I used to get quite a few tips (money, that is) for skinning rabbits for the guns.

It was such easy work that I was puzzled by their reluctance to do it themselves.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: