Safety or bladed

[MacCathail]

I gave up on the sgian dubh a few years ago. I think in 30+ years of wearing the kilt I probably used it for something practical perhaps twice. Then it was to shave down a new reed that was too strong. Otherwise it just got in the way. A sgian was part of the uniform in several of the pipe bands I was in and I had a couple of my own. I lost the fancy one whose blade may have been able to cut butter, although I never tried. On the other hand the horn-handled one which still sits in my drawer will cut pretty much anything. I sliced through the - rather cheap - leather scabbard that came with it . . . and a couple of times my own clumsy fingers.

I'm never without my pocket knife, though. I must have got my first one when I was 9 or 10. My uncle gave it to me. It was a pearl-handled beauty with "Blackstone Hotel, Chicago" inscribed on it. I still always carry some sort of pocket knife. (Well, almost always. Thanks, TSA. Grumble, grumble.)

Cheers,

-John-