how to make the sgian dubh stay in the scabbard?

**shane the piper** · 22nd March 07, 01:35 PM

my sgain dubh is too lose for my likings in the scabbard so if anyone knows how to fix this please tell me.

**Splash_4** · 22nd March 07, 01:40 PM

What I did was buy a piece of stiff felt from a local craft store. Cut it to fit the slot in the scabbard (you might need to cut it long and fold it in half if the slop is too much).

**cavscout** · 22nd March 07, 01:57 PM

The advise Splash gives is probably the best option. I think someone else used a piece of card board if you only need to shim it a little.

**Doc** · 22nd March 07, 04:48 PM

some scrap sweade leather and a little glue will work wonders also.

**PiobBear** · 23rd March 07, 07:12 AM

In addition to shimming the scabbard, most folks I know wear a sgian with only the top half of the hilt exposed, with the hose top holding it in place. I believe that there's a reliably reproducible inverse relationship between a sgian dubh's cost and the height at which it is displayed.

**Caradoc** · 23rd March 07, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by PiobBear

In addition to shimming the scabbard, most folks I know wear a sgian with only the top half of the hilt exposed, with the hose top holding it in place.

Agreed - all that needs to be showing is enough to grab the pommel with a thumb and two fingers.

**Panache** · 23rd March 07, 07:54 AM

I've put in a lttle shim of stiff vinyl and it did the trick.

As an aside the cashier in Home Depot yesterday stared at my kilted outfit with a dumbfounded look. She pointed at my sgian dubh and asked "What's that?" When I told her in was a knife that kilt wearers traditionally wear in their sock. She looked at me for a minute thinking and then said "but doesn't it hurt when you stick it in there?"

Cheers

Panache

I did assure her that generally they are worn with a sheath.

**Pour1Malt** · 23rd March 07, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by shane the piper

my sgain dubh is too lose for my likings in the scabbard so if anyone knows how to fix this please tell me.

lose?

surely ya mean "loose"...

**cacunn** · 23rd March 07, 08:21 AM

I would consider adding the felt as a shim and to put a light coating of WD-40 or silicone spray on the felt. This would be light so it did not soak through the sheath but would coat the blade as it goes in and out.

I would have to remember to wipe the blade before cutting the Haggis.

**Caradoc** · 23rd March 07, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by cacunn

I would consider adding the felt as a shim and to put a light coating of WD-40 or silicone spray on the felt. This would be light so it did not soak through the sheath but would coat the blade as it goes in and out.

I would have to remember to wipe the blade before cutting the Haggis.

WD-40's actually not all that good at preventing rust. It's a penetrating solvent, good for removing oils, greases, and other gunk that has accumulated gunk and gummed up the works.

A light coating of microcrystalline wax or mineral oil would do better. Even a swipe of Vaseline.