Arrested or questioned for wearing sgians

[Just Hugh]

I couldn't help thinking of this thread last weekend while at the Scottish games. A piper who was joining our band for the first time had put on a uniform shirt fresh out of the packaging. It had one of those plastic thingies holding a badge backing to the pocket and he needed it cut off. I guess he forgot his own Sgian Dubh and said, "Does anyone have a knife?"

It was comical to see who could get theirs out or their sock fastest to help him and the look on his face with all the blades offered.

I'll be sure to remember that for a scene in my screenplay about the ragtag pipe band who, against all odds, and with an alcoholic (but lovable) band leader makes it to the championships of piping and/or drumming. Perhaps I'll throw in a cute dog to boost the ratings. And, of course, I'll have to include the sexy wisecracking lassie daughter who rallies them all to victory!

Anyone who buys me a pint can be one of the extras.

[Sean D]

In South Africa we make a kind of jerky called biltong , basically dried cured meat ( much nicer than jerky and not as dry ) and often folks will carry a decent sharp knife just so they can cut a piece off and enjoy it , no man worth his salt would forgo his knife to deal with a decent piece of biltong , my sgian dubh is not the plastic one however the blade is blunt , apparently they are sold like that in Scotland due to the knife laws which I can understand however I would like to sharpen mine so its useful , even useful to carry a knife in a pipe band ( cutting hemp , cutting plastic off shirts etc ) and of course the odd piece of jerky , cheers all

[Aussie_Don]

Just got back from a weekend at the National Celtic Festival in
Portarlington, Victoria. I was kilted for the entire weekend and
I fielded a number of questions about the sgian dubh in my hose-top.

"Is that really a knife?' being typical.

I simply took the time to explain that in earlier times the blade
would have been well hidden most of the time. And that putting
it in the hose-top where it is visible is a statement that one is
among friends. The uniform response was positive and generally
included a thank-you for the information.

I'm hoping that I got it right, as I'm sure that I'll hear about it
if I was incorrect in my comments.

[TheOfficialBren]

It was comical to see who could get theirs out or their sock fastest to help him and the look on his And, of course, I'll have to include the sexy wisecracking lassie daughter who rallies them all to victory!

Karen Gillan.

[Just Hugh]

I simply took the time to explain that in earlier times the blade
would have been well hidden most of the time. And that putting
it in the hose-top where it is visible is a statement that one is
among friends. The uniform response was positive and generally
included a thank-you for the information.

I'm hoping that I got it right, as I'm sure that I'll hear about it
if I was incorrect in my comments.

That is my understanding also.

If you really want to bore people (like I do), the gaelic translation for Sgian is "knife" and dubh is "dark" although the word was also used to mean "obscured or hidden." So we're placing our "hidden knife" in the open.

It's such a funny demonstration of trust/friendship. "I will leave my long sword at the door, and move my hidden knife from under my jacket to my still-within-reach sock, trusted friend. Now let's have some of that Whiskey, and we'll just see how the rest of the night goes!"

[auld argonian]

Have I bored you lately with the link to Craig Ferguson's rant about going to a wedding and having to rent a plastic Sghian Dhub for the occasion?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L5_nIcbkrU

"A hundred Scotsmen with daggers at a wedding with an open bar….what could go wrong?"

I don't wear one while puttering around Chicago….one of my oft repeated stories is going to a White Sox game kilted and passing through security only to be called back by an old guy who was obviously a retired Chicago cop. It occurred to him after I went through the checkpoint that I might have "one a' dose knifes in my sock". I was impressed that the fella cared enough to ask!

Best

AA

[robbiethepiper]

If you are going to be boring you might qs well be accurate: 'dubh' = black, 'dorcha' = dark. Minor distinction, ach sin agad e!

[BCAC]

If you are going to be boring you might qs well be accurate: 'dubh' = black, 'dorcha' = dark. Minor distinction, ach sin agad e!

And Whiskey is not Whisky!

[Father Bill]

And Whiskey is not Whisky!

...except when you're desperate!

[Manxstralian]

I have a Sgian which I made from a blade and antler tip I bought in Scotland, but have worn it exactly twice (both at weddings), due to the absurdly strict knife laws in Victoria:

New Weapons Laws

Release date: Thu 3 June 2010
Last updated: Fri 13 August 2010
The Victorian Government has introduced new laws to target knife crime.
From 22 August 2010

You can be searched for knives in a public place anywhere, anytime, with and without notice.
If you are 16 and over and get caught carrying a controlled weapon such as a knife, you face an on the spot fine of $1,000, or you may have to go to court and face a fine of over $14,000 or one year imprisonment.

This penalty is doubled if you are inside or within 20 metres of a pub, club or bar.

I've not really wanted to test the law by carrying it to a police station to ask, since I could theoretically be arrested on the spot. So for me, it's a Sgian Brew (which could still lead to detainment/questioning by people who have far more important things to do), or nothing at all. I choose nothing at all. I know Mike (Downunder) wears one, but again, I get the feeling I spend more time in pubs than he does.

I know of a friend who was detained for carrying a Stanley knife, and was actually taken to her home by the police to show she was enrolled at the Victorian College of Arts, and had a legitimate reason to be carrying a "weapon".

Cheers,

Cameron