Sgian Dubh

[ghostlight]

It's strange for me to hear about people being so tight about such things in other parts of the country (or world).

It initially seemed strange to me, too.

Here in the NW, legally speaking you can walk around the streets with a broadsword as long as it's not concealed, and you should be fine as long as you conduct yourself in a normal sane manner.

I spent most of the latter half of my "formative years" in Montana (where openly carrying pretty much everything was legal at the time and not unusual in rural areas). After spending some time enlisted following that, moving to California and then Florida as a civilian was a bit of a switch for me.

As a civilian in Florida, you can openly carry only pepper spray, a non-lethal stun gun or a standard, folding pocket knife. Everything else is illegal without a permit -- including fixed blade knives with only two exceptions: plastic knives and blunt-bladed table knives. This is especially strange to me considering the size of the state and the amount of it that is still undeveloped and wild, but it is good to know that I am legally entitled to butter my bread at dinner with impunity.

But it is the law and, out of respect for those in civilian uniform, I won't wear a Sgian (or anything that looks like one) as long as I do not possess a permit. If we ever move to an open carry state or if I ever feel the need to acquire a permit, I will wear a Sgian Dubh.

But, for now, the top of my hose stays empty.