Has carrying a sgian dubh ever caused anyone problems?

**Braveheart88** · 21st June 07, 02:46 PM

I want to get a sgian dubh, but my mom thinks that it might make people nervous for me to carry a knife. Has anyone had any problems with this?

**Don Patrick** · 21st June 07, 02:51 PM

Not with a dirk, but I have with with knives in general. Courthouses, airports, some schools, anywhere they use metal detectors. I lost a couple of nice knives that way.

**Dirka Skene** · 21st June 07, 02:57 PM

It shouldn't cause a problem in a casual setting.

**Panache** · 21st June 07, 02:57 PM

My advice,

Ask yourself:

Do I really want/have need of a real knife? A

or

Do I want a really attractive decorative item to enhance my kilt outfit ? B

If A You want a real knife, then you should check your local and state laws and codes about carrying a blade. Then decide if it is worth it.

If B You want something attractive to enhance your kilted outfit, look into a blank/ false sgian dubh or a "sgian don't" (a knife handled bottle opener, comb, or whatever) which can be a fun woodworking project.

I wear mainly "sgian don'ts". I have been asked VERY seriously by a police officer if I was wearing a knife in my sock at my son's elementary school (I was wearing a "sgian don't"). Had I been stupid in my interactions with this officer it might have gone VERY VERY badly for me.

I remember when I got my first kilt, a gray mocker Utilikilt. I had flashes and hose but I just couldn't wait to get a sgian dubh. It seemed a big deal at the time. After a year of wearing kilts I see the sgian dubh for what it is, a small part of Highland dress, interesting, but not essential.

For the record, I get a heck of a lot more use from my bottle opener than I ever had with either of my two real sgian dubhs which is why I wear that one most of the time.

Just my two cents.

Cheers

Jamie

**Monkey@Arms** · 21st June 07, 03:08 PM

Well said, Panache. Sgian dubhs are fun accessories, but our high school aged forum members might run into more hassles/problems carrying one then us "ahem" slightly older blokes.

Best regards,

Jake

**Robin** · 21st June 07, 03:15 PM

Only once...a police car almost knocked me off my feet when I walked on the side walk in the city centre.

I bypassed the Dutch weapon law with my custom made sgian dubh (Rab Gordon SG208a)...no blood groove and no fish scalers. It's now just a knife...not a weapon

Btw...I hardly ever wear a sgian dubh when casual.

**Monkey@Arms** · 21st June 07, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Robin

Only once...a police car almost knocked me off my feet when I walked on the side walk in the city centre.

I bypassed the Dutch weapon law with my custom made sgian dubh (Rab Gordon SG208a)...no blood groove and no fish scalers. It's now just a knife...not a weapon

Btw...I hardly ever wear a sgian dubh when casual.

Hey Robin, those things cut on to the the spine of the blade are called "jimping." They provide some slip-resistance and are also decorative, but fish scalers they are not.

Best regards,

Jake

**Mr. MacDougall** · 21st June 07, 03:56 PM

I've been asked to leave my knife outside, but that's about the extent of it.

**McClef** · 21st June 07, 04:02 PM

Not so far apart from packing it away in hold luggage for flying as I would have to do with other objects such as scissors.

**Don Patrick** · 21st June 07, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Monkey@Arms

Hey Robin, those things cut on to the the spine of the blade are called "jimping." They provide some slip-resistance and are also decorative, but fish scalers they are not.

Best regards,

Jake

Jake,

Some depending on how they are set up are for scaling fish, others for stabilizing your thumb, then even others for sawing light metal. Couldn't resist that - it's the knife collector in me I guess. Sorry.