Are you complete without a Sgian Dubh?

[The Vicar]

I thought I would put this out to the community for some assistance in the matter.

Would one be considered to be improperly dressed by not wearing a sgian dubh in formal attire?

What about when wearing casual attire?

Would it be wrong to replace the sgian duhb with someting else in the hose or is that considered a faux pas?

What is the history behind the sgian dubh?

I used to always wear one in the kilt, but with my ordination coming up I am thinking of no longer carrying one with me.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks

V

[Phogfan86]

I wouldn't dream of skipping it in formal dress. For casual dress, I'd have to consider the situation -- some situations are just better when there aren't knives around.

Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but I believe the sgian dubh came about when the English outlawed weapons and Scots needed something they could easily conceal in their kilt or their boot.

[DWFII]

If people are ready to accept sgian don'ts, or sgian brews in lieu of a real knife, I don't know why you couldn't substitute a small ornately carved celtic (of course) cross.

My last kilted outing was in Guthrie, Oklahoma. No dagger-like knives are allowed to be carried...period. I checked the statutes to be sure. What does one do under those kind of circumstances? We all went without that's what and no one raised an eyebrow.

I thought I would put this out to the community for some assistance in the matter.

Would one be considered to be improperly dressed by not wearing a sgian dubh in formal attire?

What about when wearing casual attire?

Would it be wrong to replace the sgian duhb with someting else in the hose or is that considered a faux pas?

What is the history behind the sgian dubh?

I used to always wear one in the kilt, but with my ordination coming up I am thinking of no longer carrying one with me.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks

V

[turpin]

You can always think of it as a tool, like a pocket knife. I have used mine several times just as a cutting edge whan needed. Although it originated as a weapon of last resort, you don't hear about anyone being stabbed with a sgian dubh anymore.

Alternatively, check in with Steve Sanders of Tennessee Sgians, who can make a non-metal sgian dubh.

I typically don't wear a sgian when at work, and when I'm casual in boots I don't have a place to hold one. So I pretty much only wear it when going out to a kilt note or highland games, or some othere Scottish event.

[Bugbear]

I've thought of asking parts of this question too. Perhaps one day I will look into getting one, but it just hasn't felt like a vital thing to have.

On a side note, I used to carry a sharp table knife or steak knife with me because those straitened butter knives that are often used as table knives do not work well...

Perhaps that would be a good reason to look into wearing one; though, I normaly have a pocket knife with my keys attached that goes in my pocket or sporran.

Look forward to hearing the answer on the formal attire.

[McMurdo]

I personally would not consider going formal without the sgian dubh, however I have done a casual look with and without depending on the situation.

[thescot]

I always wear a sgian dhu when kilted, and I always carry a pocket knife when panted. It's just a very handy, almost necesssary tool to have around.

And . . . to me, whether formal or casual, the sgian just looks right in the hose.

[Big Mikey]

This is just one fat old mans opinion....................

It is not so much the blade that completes the look but the handle. I have rarely seen anyone in full dress that pulls their sgian. As suggested above a "sgian don't", a cross or other implement with a decorative handle would do just as nicely.

[JamieKerr]

I never wear one solely because police around here are notorious for harassing people, and I'm not willing to take the chance. I don't carry a sgian dubh, but I am licensed to carry my sgian taurus

[McClef]

When formally I would see it as de rigeur but I see it as more optional when casually dressed - sometimes I do and sometimes I don't