[Ancienne Alliance]

As you can see, you don't have to wear one...

As I'm a flashy dresser, I love sgians.

My favorite "sgian don't" : a potato peeler: they're a blast !


Best,

Robert

[Jock Scot]

There is nothing anywhere in this universe that says you must wear one, so don't, if that is what makes you happy.

[Howard Clark]

I sometimes forget to put one in my sock, but tat is unusual.

Robert, check out this vegetable peeler. I made it several years ago, for fun. The frame is copper and nickel mokume gane, the blade is tight twist pattern welded steel.

[OC Richard]

I nearly always wear a sgian dubh. I look upon it as part of a piper's kit, I suppose.

But I'm careful not to wear it when playing at a school etc due to the "zero tolerance" policies.

My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the sgian dubh wasn't a weapon but the equivalent of a pocket-knife, worn in the sock because the kilt lacks pockets.

Interesting perhaps that in the Pipe Band scene nowadays it's distinctly unfashionable to wear sginean. Watch the world's best bands in competition and you'll hardly see one. I think there's two things at work 1) serious pipers are all about the music and anything that smacks as "dressing up" is distasteful and 2) top pipe bands want as much uniformity in their dress as possible and unless every single member of the band somehow has a matching sgian and everyone wears it exactly the same, they'd much rather go without.

It's the same reason many bands don't wear kilt pins. If some members loose theirs and the people who still have them are wearing them at different locations on their kilts they detract from the band's appearance.

[HeathBar]

Just curious if the people making these comments to you are in the Scottish community or are they ordinary citizens?

[David Thornton]

Originally Posted by billmcc

I rarely wear a sgian dubh. The folding knife in my sporran is a much better tool.

OK, I've come back to this several time, I just have to know. Why is the folder a better tool? I have many knives, I like them all and all have specific roles. But, when kilted the sgian serves its purpose well. Peel an apple, can do. Open a box, can do. Clean under my nails, can do.

[ForresterModern]

Sometimes I wear one, sometimes not. It is usually more dependent on how dressed up I am getting with the kilt, and sometimes my simple minded forgetfullness.

As OC said above there are a few "zero tolerance" zones and extended similar zones where I would not consider it appropriate---in a school, airport, at work (I work closely with children), in a hospital, etc...

I look at it as an adornment, a piece of jewelry if you would, that is entirely optional. My couple are not even sharpened so would be relatively useless except for cutting butter, gutting a pinata, popping a balloon, or opening a letter. Other than other kilt wearers, or native scots in the know, I would not expect a stranger to even know what a sgian dhub was, let alone that I should be wearing it, and how or where. I think your encounter is out of the ordinary, well, just about anywhere outside of Scotland.

jeff

[Ancienne Alliance]

Originally Posted by Howard Clark

I sometimes forget to put one in my sock, but tat is unusual.

Robert, check out this vegetable peeler. I made it several years ago, for fun. The frame is copper and nickel mokume gane, the blade is tight twist pattern welded steel.

very nice work !


All the best,

Robert

[graham_s]

Originally Posted by David Thornton

OK, I've come back to this several time, I just have to know. Why is the folder a better tool? I have many knives, I like them all and all have specific roles. But, when kilted the sgian serves its purpose well. Peel an apple, can do. Open a box, can do. Clean under my nails, can do.

I expect the poster in question has a crap quality 'doo.
It's rare to be able to buy one of a decent quality that you could use it as a tool, most of them are built with poor quality fittings with a blade of low quality stainless steel.
I have several decent ones, a couple custom made by cutlers for me.
most of the ones you get in the kilt shops/ebay are purely decorative.

As for myself, I always carry my 'doo when I'm in my kilt (unless I'm somwhere I can't). I don't feel dressed without it.

[Tobus]

I carry a knife everywhere, all of the time. I've rarely if ever thought of them as weapons, rather as quite handy tools, which I use frequently. The sgian dubh generally fits the bill for penknife uses anyway.

Same here. I honestly don't know how people get by in everyday life without a pocket knife. If I happen to leave the house without a knife, I feel like I've left my right hand at home!

So I admit to not really understanding the whole idea of a sgian dubh as being "jewelry".

But for those who for whatever reason have an aversion to carrying around a basic functional knife, there are lots of fun ideas that could be used in lieu of a sgian dubh.

How about making a custom wood- or antler-capped tube about the size and shape of a sgian dubh that can be used to carry pens or pencils? Surely everybody needs a writing instrument now and then. Or it could carry a hair comb. Or a cigarette lighter. Or a small flashlight. Chap-stick. A roll of Rolaids. Your daily vitamins. Toothpicks. (I like the bottle opener!) There are a zillion things you could carry in it to make it a useful and functional item in your wardrobe while still satisfying everyone's expectations for "the look". Be creative and have fun with it!