Sgian Dhub question

[Alaskan]

Those sources read like the 6 O:Clock News. Theories suggest, some say, it is believed, it is possible, experts disagree ... yaaaawn

Bear, I was a history minor in college and everything I read on the subject says things like "it is believed" or "research suggests." It is very difficult to say something happened one way or another in history. For all but the most recent history there are no witnesses still alive. Even when there are witnesses their accounts are not always reliable. If you aren't interested in history why did you ask for sources?

[Alaskan Celt]

"Sorry, I don't know you well enough to know when you're being deliberately obtuse."

No, I guess you don't know me well enough; it's called "passive education". I was trying to illuminate the error in your logic with humor and trying not to be too confrontational.

You want to let the issue die a quiet death or do you want to pursue it some more...your call Bear. (But save the "deliberately obtuse" sillyness for others or else get a dictionary and look up words before you use them).

[Graham]

What's this, another Alaskan? Oh Noooooo

[Alaskan]

Don't worry, Graham it's not like he's a clone of me or anything. There's still only one of me.

[Casey]

I have been observing this thread for a while and I think that everyone should review it several times as it is a good example of regional and cultural differences, as well as, the differences of opinion that we all have.

Now, I will offer my opinion. To me I knife has two functions. The first is a tool of construction. t
The second is a tool of destruction. I often used my knives for the first, and I am fortunate that I have not had to use it, as yet, for the second.

Casey

[bubba]

Alaskan, the 3 inch rule on knife blades is fairly common in most of the lower 48. I've been around some driving truck and found that, excepting some specific locations and purposes, the law overall limits a legally carried knife to a 3 inch blade or less. Generally, the denser the population the more restrictive the laws in that regard. In a rural location enforcement is less likely than in an urban location but the law remains in force. What you can do on private property is yet another thing. On a farm or ranch you can carry a claymore if you want since it's not public property, but you can't carry it in town. I've read of guys running afoul of concealed weapons laws wearing a sgian dubh in some places as well.

[Alaskan]

Bubba, something being a common law in a lot of states, and something being the law in the United States are two very different things. Alaska is part of the United States, and I guarantee you that no one is going to run afoul of the law for carrying a sgian dubh in their sock in Alaska. In Alaska it is legal to visibly carry a firearm... not in government buildings or schools, but in most places. At least that was the law when I left. Since coming to Japan they have changed the concealed carry laws so that as long as you have no criminal record you no longer need a permit to carry concealed. I don't know if that may have affected the law about carrying visibly, but I doubt it did.

However, after re-reading all the posts, I realised that you never did actually say that the 3 inch rule was the law in the US. You mentioned the 3 inch rule and then stated that in the US it doesn't matter if it is part of traditional attire or not. I put those two sentances together and thought that you were saying the three inch rule was the law in the US. Later when you said "here" again, I was thinking the US, but you could have just as well meant Wisconsin. So, if I misinterpreted what you were saying I apologize for the misunderstanding.

[bubba]

I think you did misunderstand. Those laws are the province of State and local Govts, not Federal. The commonly accepted rule is 3 inch or less in most places. Alaska is rather exceptional being less populated than most. In the lower 48 the majority have settled on some rather arbitrary regulations. When I say here I generally mean my home State or my locality and say in the US when I mean nationally. Got into that habit on IRC where the users are very much spread over the globe.

[Robbie]

As I said previously, the law in the UK is much more straightforward - carrying an item with a blade of 3" or more in a public place is an offence, end of story regardless of what you intend doing with it. There are only 3 acceptable defences in law (a) you need the item for work (b) it's carried for religious reasons, or (c) it's worn as part of a national costume.

Now there is room for some debate about what exactly constitutes the Scottish national costume, but generally most Scots accept that this means a shirt, jacket and tie as well as the kilt, ie fairly formally dressed.

Personally, I tend to share this view and regard the modern sgian dubh in the same light as the fancy dress sporran, a decorative item only worn when formally dressed for functions etc, and never wear it when casually attired.

[Colin]

[Alaskan
It is hard to read anything about the history of the sgian dubh without reading that it was a skinning knife or an eating utensil.

How's this?
http://www.geocities.com/~sconemac/feature.html

Or this?
http://www.scottishtartans.org/blackknife.html

Or this site that says the utility knife became a concealed weapon due to the ban on arms?
http://www.highlandwear.org/sgian.htm

Where did it say anyhting about it being used as an eating utensil? The dirks do come with a knife and fork, not sgian dubhs http://216.71.156.105/product538.html

But if you insist that a sgian dubh is an eating utensil, you go right ahead and use it one.

As far as a sgian dubh being seen as a part of a national dress and not as a weapon, it really does depend on where and how you are wearing it. Here in Vancouver I can get away with it near my house. Would I wear it my hose to the pub, maybe, but I am prepared that I could be asked to put it away or remove it from the premises.

Like kilts there are only guidelines for sgian dubhs, sporrans, etc. Everyone will wear and see them differently.You yourself like matching tartan hats and ties, where as most people on this board find them distasteful or see them as something children wear. To each their own. There is no offical rule book, and there will be no test at the end of the school year.