Wearing a dirk casually

**tripleblessed** · 11th June 18, 03:22 AM

In somewhere between many and most areas of the US, sgians and weapons associated with battle are legal to carry if you are in national
costume or costume for an event. Not exactly common, but can be done. Bemuses me to find so much objection to this subject here or
anywhere as kilts and military have been so interconnected.

As for weapons in church, I have seen it. Again, not common. I think some feel the ceremonies around weddings and death are for for the
folk attending, no one else, and they'll jolly well do it to suit themselves. Not saying that's correct, just attempting to add a little insight.

**CollinMacD** · 11th June 18, 06:39 AM

WHY? You going to war? A little pocket knife in the sporran fixes any issue you might encounter.

In my line of work, weapons are tools of the trade, and nothing more. Unfortunately some believe its a display of power, and must be displayed. BUNK, we don't need this stuff. If you are a brick manson, would you wear your trowel or level with your kilt, what is the difference, less the "look at me, I am a brave warrior". Forget it.

**LKM** · 11th June 18, 06:41 AM

There are few occasions where carrying a knife can be helpful, such as hiking in many mountain ranges with wild animals. I would not say that a dirk would be the best for this yet for some people it might seem like a good choice. I would personally opt for a bowie knife, mid sized folding knife, or a multi-tool in the woods yet that is me. Unless you are planning on cutting a haggis or wedding cake with it I do not see much reason for a non-uniformed person to be wearing a dirk in most cities.

As for the legal aspects: The original poster an myself are in the US and there are no federal laws against wearing a bladed weapon in public, yet wearing one could get you watched for public safety reasons (much like if you were to openly wear a gun in public) and drawing a blade over 4 inches would be reasonable cause for police intervention. Some cities and businesses have more specific rules about weapons, and this is something to check if you decide to wear a dirk.

**CollinMacD** · 11th June 18, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by LKM

There are few occasions where carrying a knife can be helpful, such as hiking in many mountain ranges with wild animals. I would not say that a dirk would be the best for this yet for some people it might seem like a good choice. I would personally opt for a bowie knife, mid sized folding knife, or a multi-tool in the woods yet that is me. Unless you are planning on cutting a haggis or wedding cake with it I do not see much reason for a non-uniformed person to be wearing a dirk in most cities.

As for the legal aspects: The original poster an myself are in the US and there are no federal laws against wearing a bladed weapon in public, yet wearing one could get you watched for public safety reasons (much like if you were to openly wear a gun in public) and drawing a blade over 4 inches would be reasonable cause for police intervention. Some cities and businesses have more specific rules about weapons, and this is something to check if you decide to wear a dirk.

I live here in the US too, and for an activity which a blade is need sure, but a Bowie knife on a hike, isn't that a little over the top? Folding Knife, (Buck knife in a waist case sure. but a survival knife for a walk in the woods?). DIRKS for the most part, even in the US, unless worn for ceremony, are not legal as they exceed the blade length law, and do you really need a dirk to go for a walk in the woods. I see TOO MANY people who dress up Scottish and wear and carry a multitude of blades. One specific person tries to dress up like a Jacobite and carries the largest claymore and about six daggers. and dirks on his belt and baldric. SO STUPID LOOKING, and does not do a service to the Jacobite warrior or any other Scottish warrior. TOO MUCH emphasis on weapons, focus on be a "sharp dressed Scot".

So making my point clear, a knife is a tool, and should be treated as a tool, not a weapon to be displayed to convey I am powerful. Using and carrying a knife for a tool, especially kilted in hiking or outside actives, in my humble opinion, is ok, just don't go overboard. carried a dirk when you can carry a small encased belt knife or multitool that will get the job done. Most people do this to draw attention to themselves, not to use the knife/dirk as a utility tool.

**LKM** · 11th June 18, 07:10 AM

I live in bear and mountain lion country. While encounters are few you still want something that these animals will notice if they are hit and make the animal back off as fast as possible. Thankfully I have not been given a reason to draw a blade with these animals, yet I have been within 50 yards of a wild mountain lion and under 10 feet from a few bears.

If you draw a blade over 4 inches you can be arrested as that would be against the law, if sheathed it is not a violation of federal law but it could be an issue with local law. If you carry a 3" sheathed blade in Denver, Colorado you can expect the police to stop you as the city has a law about that. I have seen police watching people who wear large blades in public, and that type of attention is best avoided in my opinion.

**kingandrew** · 11th June 18, 08:16 AM

Patrick,

I don't want to get into anything against the rules or controversial, but I will note that with recent debates in the US about guns, we have seen many states pass laws making it easier to be armed in public and a number of activists who carry weapons in unexpected places to demonstrate their legal rights to do so.

In most places in the US (aside from a school classroom, a courtroom, or a government office building), a person's right to carry a knife is unlikely to be questioned. I've certainly seen swords of all sorts openly carried at different events in public parks in the US, including Highland Games, Renaissance Fairs, and historic re-enactments. I myself have participated in firing a cannon (blanks only) at a historic site, which is a much bigger weapon than any sword I've seen.

So there is definitely a different attitude in the US about weapons, above and beyond the romantic image of the Highland warrior, which is definitely an influence as well.

Andrew

**tokareva** · 11th June 18, 08:28 AM

Patrick, what Kingandrew is telling you is correct. I wasn't going to address it because I'm not interested in wearing a dirk, but if I wanted to wear one nothing would happen.

**Terry Searl** · 11th June 18, 08:45 AM

Just from the discussion about blades and other weapons shown in the last few threads.......as FossilHunter intimated to me ......There is a different attitude in America about having the right or necessity to be armed in public, far different from both attitude and necessity to be armed in public in Canada, the UK or most of the rest of the "western" world........I make this differentiation because I have no idea what goes on in Eastern Europe or some middle eastern societies........I think for my part I won't participate in this discussion any more, as to me, it is beginning to drift away from kilted discussions and getting very close to the edge where the moderators will end it

**Terry Searl** · 11th June 18, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by LKM

I live in bear and mountain lion country. While encounters are few you still want something that these animals will notice if they are hit and make the animal back off as fast as possible. Thankfully I have not been given a reason to draw a blade with these animals, yet I have been within 50 yards of a wild mountain lion and under 10 feet from a few bears.

If you draw a blade over 4 inches you can be arrested as that would be against the law, if sheathed it is not a violation of federal law but it could be an issue with local law. If you carry a 3" sheathed blade in Denver, Colorado you can expect the police to stop you as the city has a law about that. I have seen police watching people who wear large blades in public, and that type of attention is best avoided in my opinion.

I have lived and worked in the bush for almost 50 years and can say without a doubt in MOST cases making loud noises will keep bears and cougars away far more effectively than waving a knife at them. If you really think a bear or big cat won't come after you because you are armed, you will have a realignment of your thoughts when the beast is on you...... and when it is on you, well the chances of you winning the contest armed with a knife or not, favours the beast

**FossilHunter** · 11th June 18, 09:14 AM

Trying to stay on the main topic and as highly variable state laws have been mentioned, I thought it might be useful to point out that there are in fact several states where it is perfectly legal to carry a dirk or Bowie knife or whatever for any reason save the intent of carrying out a criminal act.

https://blog.knife-depot.com/10-stat...nt-knife-laws/

We have to be careful telling people what is or isn’t illegal because state law can be so wildly different and I do not believe that there are any federal laws related to knives unless they apply to federal property.

And I am sharing this without judgment of any state’s laws one way or the other. I just thought it might be valuable to the discussion.