Sgian Removal

**xman** · 26th February 11, 04:14 PM

Meetings at the bank today. Dressed up nice. Between the two a gentleman asked me, "Is that a knife"? I replied simply, "Yes". He asked if it was legal and I told him that of course it was at under 3". A few moments later a bank official came out to ask me to take it off. I dropped it into my satchel and all seemed fine. Guess I was no longer considered 'armed' at that point. I'll confess that I had considered that there might be some issue it being a bank and all. Guess I need a sgian don't for such occasions. I can see it now.
"Is that a knife"?
"No, it's a bottle opener"
"I don't like your sarcasm"
*sigh*

Has anyone else had a similar situation? How did you handle it?

X

**Jack Daw** · 26th February 11, 04:39 PM

I suppose it's sort of like the difference between having your weapon in a holster versus having it put away out of ready reach.

**The Wizard of BC** · 26th February 11, 05:00 PM

Hi X,

In my early days of wearing the kilt I asked some members of the law enforcement community about the legality of a Sgain.

The answer I got from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was.

"If we see you on the street dressed in a kilt with a sgain in your sock no one will say a thing.
If however we are responding to a call and find you in your kilt brandishing and waving your sgain, then perhaps we would have a chat with you."

I have always taken this to mean that they were suggesting that if I wish to brandish my sgain I should remove my kilt first. But I may be wrong.

If the RCMP have no problem with a sgain then a bank official would be acting on his own initiative and/or the fears of other customers. You did right by simply removing it and not turning the incident into a big rights issue.

**Bill aka Mole** · 26th February 11, 05:13 PM

I tried to detemine the difference between a "legal" and an "illegal" knife here in South Carolina and found out that if the blade is "used during the commission of a crime" then it is illegal. My banker hadn't seen me kilted so I went in and she asked about the sgian dbuh and I confirmed to her that it was indeed a knife that I'm currently working the edge on. I asked her if she was concerned by this and she admited that it did make her a touch nervous. I came back the following day wearing my normal "on-call" p@^#$ and asked her if this was more comfortable for her and while she was looking me over I withdrew a rescue blade, a pocket folder, a Swiss Army knife and a backup multi-tool, all of which I normally carry. I don't think that the sgian dbuh will be a problem anymore.

**Downunder Kilt** · 26th February 11, 05:33 PM

In Victoria, Australia we currently have a crackdown on knives, of any size, being carried upon the person. It is not uncommon, if you are walking around or catching public transport to be stopped by police and the "wand" put over you or asked to turn your pockets out. To have a knife on you, without reasonable excuse, gets you a hefty on the spot fine.

As a electrican I have a reasonable excuse whilst I am at or going to and from work, as it is classed tools of trade.

In relation to a sgian dubh, I made extensive enquiries with the police, explaining that I wear one when dressed in highland attire and as to the legalities of it. Their response was that at an organised event it was fine, as it would be at a funeral, wedding etc. They suggested that if I was going to a hotel (bar) or other place where people maybe alarmed, then the best option would be to leave it at home. In fact the taking of any knife into a licenced premises is now strictly prohibited. This is pretty strictly enforced in the cities but I have seen enough leathermans and similiar in country hotels to make an ass of the law.

**Geoff Withnell** · 26th February 11, 05:46 PM

When I travel, at least within the USA, I consult this site, which gives a decent synopsis of state and some municipal knife laws. Right next door in the District of Coumbia, most of my collection of sgians are not legal. I am fortunate that my home state, Maryland, has very lax laws on open carry of knives (sgian in the sock is open carry), even if Maryland is VERY strict on concealed carry on any weapons.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USKnife.pdf

Geoff Withnell

**Really a McQueen** · 26th February 11, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by xman

... "Is that a knife"?
"No, it's a bottle opener"
"I don't like your sarcasm"
*sigh*

I seem to recall seeing an antler handled bottle opener somewhere.

... One of those might be handy for daywear, someplace where a normal sgian could cause problems.

**Llwyd** · 26th February 11, 07:09 PM

Under most circumstances...obviously not of it is an officer...is that a knife? No, ots a bottle opener..
I don't like your sarcasm...

I don't like your intrusiveness....have a nice day..

The bank thing...eh..probably would not carry...

**T-Bone** · 26th February 11, 08:00 PM

I guess I am lucky to live in a free-ish state: Indiana. I have strong feelings towards knives. Being one of Man's first tools, I cannot wrap my mind around the fear people have of them enough to outlaw them. I will stop there about that.
As for sgian's, I generally do not wear one because I do not find them comfortable. I do, however, carry a folder in my sporran.

T