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5th September 05, 07:25 PM
#21
 Originally Posted by Brasilikilt
Hey all
Here's a couple knives which I have been using as my sgian dubh
This is an old Kinsfolks blade made probably sometime in the late 50's early 60's. The blade has lost a lot of metal from being used and sharpened so much. The blade is the perfect thickness, handy size, keeps a keen edge and has held it's own and on occasion has outperformed knives costing 10 times as much.
If you ask me, if a knife is on the small side, has a black handle and lives in your sock while wearing your kilt......it's a sgian dubh!
Dread.....you asked about if Mora makes a wee knife
I have worn this in my sock while kilted even though the handle is a little too round and fat to be very comfortable, wood can always be reshaped with the right tools I guess you can refer to it as my Scandinavian Sgian Dubh:-)
I bought this one as well as a French Opinel folding knife from this website:
http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html
Ranald.........
I've been collecting bits of deer antlers from the local taxidermist recently just for that purpose.
The blades from Atlanta Cutlery are supposed to be of pretty decent quality
http://www.atlantacutlery.com/websto...archPosition=9
Many moons ago I mentioned something to the admin about posting a tutorial, now that I have a digital camera and a wild hair in my ****, I might just take that project on!
Allow me to be the first to say that you have good taste in blades.
I love Moras. Own several. Never yet seen one small enough for a Black Knife. The one you posted is awfully close.
I think my worst problem with a wee knife would be how freakishly large my hands are... It would be so tiny in my mitts. I mean, I wear a size 15 ring. And everything looks so small and dainty in my hands. (You can see me dwarfing a 1 pint salsa bowl on my website) If I ever got a knife scaled to fit my hands, it would be to big for my sock. Any knife that would fit in my sock would look like the little pewter knife that came in the Clue game in my hands. And even Hamish has stated that proportion is important with kilt wearing, and for once, I agree wholeheartedly with him.
This is why I asked if it were acceptable to carry something else in your sock, like a blackjack. Nothing that I would wear would look right if it had to be pulled out.
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7th September 05, 03:20 PM
#22
 Originally Posted by Dreadbelly
This is why I asked if it were acceptable to carry something else in your sock, like a blackjack. Nothing that I would wear would look right if it had to be pulled out.
This is an interesting question, I'll give it a try. First off, let me say, nicely, that there's several concepts mixed up here. There's a short-bread tin concept of a skean dhu in a sock. So let's rule out that it's a necessary part of the kilt, it's mostly a myth that looks nice. There's the concept that it looks formal. You've already made your stand clear on dressing formal, so let's rule out the formal idea.
There's a traditional concept. It's a bit shaky, not fully researched, but my opinion is that there is something in it. So, let's stay with that one.
The tradition is that we, kiltiesna', carry concealed weapons. If and when we feel that we are in a safe place, we display the weapon out of courtesy to those around us. (I've heard some gobbledygook about left or right sock, never mind that, you show it or not.)
Here's where I'm going: nothing in any of your writings indicate that you are ever in a safe place except at home. According to tradition, you would never display it. You would be following tradition better by keeping it tucked away for certain situations, like Doc Hudson's custom apron holster. The principle would apply to any weapon.
What do I recommend you wear in your sock, you ask? I always think pens look sharp tucked in the top of a sock. A nice bic pen advertised to shoot through plywood. Years ago, when teaching university women self-defence, I was asked if I would recommend the young lady carrying a knife in her purse. We discussed the purse under her books, the knife in the bottom of her purse and all the possible legal stuff. (Understand in Canada, we were talking weapons which is not legal for me to advise, nor are any non-eating knives allowed on campus.) But, what is every student expected to carry that is pointed and hard. There's no legal challenge to carrying a pen but it is deadly enough with minimal training, or imagination. Both of which, I'm sure, you are already sufficient.
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7th September 05, 03:43 PM
#23
 Originally Posted by Archangel
This is an interesting question, I'll give it a try. First off, let me say, nicely, that there's several concepts mixed up here. There's a short-bread tin concept of a skean dhu in a sock. So let's rule out that it's a necessary part of the kilt, it's mostly a myth that looks nice. There's the concept that it looks formal. You've already made your stand clear on dressing formal, so let's rule out the formal idea.
There's a traditional concept. It's a bit shaky, not fully researched, but my opinion is that there is something in it. So, let's stay with that one.
The tradition is that we, kiltiesna', carry concealed weapons. If and when we feel that we are in a safe place, we display the weapon out of courtesy to those around us. (I've heard some gobbledygook about left or right sock, never mind that, you show it or not.)
Here's where I'm going: nothing in any of your writings indicate that you are ever in a safe place except at home. According to tradition, you would never display it. You would be following tradition better by keeping it tucked away for certain situations, like Doc Hudson's custom apron holster. The principle would apply to any weapon.
What do I recommend you wear in your sock, you ask? I always think pens look sharp tucked in the top of a sock. A nice bic pen advertised to shoot through plywood. Years ago, when teaching university women self-defence, I was asked if I would recommend the young lady carrying a knife in her purse. We discussed the purse under her books, the knife in the bottom of her purse and all the possible legal stuff. (Understand in Canada, we were talking weapons which is not legal for me to advise, nor are any non-eating knives allowed on campus.) But, what is every student expected to carry that is pointed and hard. There's no legal challenge to carrying a pen but it is deadly enough with minimal training, or imagination. Both of which, I'm sure, you are already sufficient.
I like the look of a black knife in a sock. It looks proper with kilt hose.
However, being the ironclad pragmatist that I am, I refuse to wear anything that does not serve an actual purpose. If I wore a black knife, I would have to make sure that it was real. Functional. Practical. I am a slave to my ideals. I doubt my ability to wear an el-cheapo plastic fantastic stuffed in to my sock. It would bother me on some deep level that I fear I could not explain. I would view it as dead weight.
If you notice, with the knives that I have shown here on XMarks, that all have been practical. None of them fanciful. None of those quirky worthless fantasy knives that look all Klingon hunter killer Hollywood POS blades. My blades are simple, to the point, and most important, deadly. The Bumblebee and The Drinker are the real thing. They don't stay in a collectable case hanging on the wall. And I seriously doubt I could break with my tradition and have something worthless stuffed in my sock. I mean, how do I put this in the most simple of terms... What if I were in a situation where that knife in my sock had to earn it's name? Do you get my drift? God forbid I have a knife called "The Failure."
In a catalogue the other day, I found a collapsable baton. It compresses in to a 4 inch small compact tube of metal, and with the flick of a knob, extends to 20 inches. It's not to heavy, but it is a serviceable weapon for those trained to use clubs and batons. It's made from black enameled stainless steel, the same stuff they make the high grade Maglights from.
I could almost see me wearing something like that in my sock.
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7th September 05, 04:06 PM
#24
 Originally Posted by Dreadbelly
I like the look of a black knife in a sock. It looks proper with kilt hose.
However, being the ironclad pragmatist that I am, I refuse to wear anything that does not serve an actual purpose. If I wore a black knife, I would have to make sure that it was real. Functional. Practical. I am a slave to my ideals. I doubt my ability to wear an el-cheapo plastic fantastic stuffed in to my sock. It would bother me on some deep level that I fear I could not explain. I would view it as dead weight.
with you 100% here, both points.
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7th September 05, 04:09 PM
#25
 Originally Posted by Archangel
with you 100% here, both points.
Good. So I am not crazy? Some might see it as a lot of fuss over a little bit of cheap steel and plastic you keep in your sock.
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7th September 05, 04:19 PM
#26
Here are some nice sgians with functional blades:
http://www.scotiametalwork.com/blades_sgians.html
BTW, the original sgian dhu was the sgian achlais (sp?), or "armpit knife" and was definitely a concealed weapon of "last resort"...!
Brian
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." ~ Benjamin Franklin
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7th September 05, 04:27 PM
#27
I will just toss this into the melting pot:
In all the fifty-five years I have been wearing the sgian dubh in my kilt hose, I have never used any of them to cut, hack, chop, slice or stab anything! In fact, to comply with the Law, I have worn a faux sgain dubh for the past five years or so. My genuine sgian dubhs have lain at the back of my hose drawer all that time.
[B][I][U]No. of Kilts[/U][/I][/B][I]:[/I] 102.[I] [B]"[U][B]Title[/B]"[/U][/B][/I]: Lord Hamish Bicknell, Laird of Lochaber / [B][U][I]Life Member:[/I][/U][/B] The Scottish Tartans Authority / [B][U][I]Life Member:[/I][/U][/B] The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society / [U][I][B]Member:[/B][/I][/U] The Ardbeg Committee / [I][B][U]My NEW Photo Album[/U]: [/B][/I][COLOR=purple]Sadly, and with great regret, it seems my extensive and comprehensive album may now have been lost forever![/COLOR]/
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7th September 05, 04:33 PM
#28
 Originally Posted by Hamish
I will just toss this into the melting pot:
In all the fifty-five years I have been wearing the sgian dubh in my kilt hose, I have never used any of them to cut, hack, chop, slice or stab anything! In fact, to comply with the Law, I have worn a faux sgain dubh for the past five years or so. My genuine sgian dubhs have lain at the back of my hose drawer all that time.
I wish my life was that quiet and that peaceful.
Just today, when I went down to the general store for my daily walk and a Cheerwine, I had to deal with yet another "wont take no for an answer" meth head that kept asking for money. Started getting grabby. I clocked him a good one and sat him down a bench. When he wakes up, at least he will be comfortable.
I think, in all honesty, if I felt safe, I could probably wear a faux decorative blade.
I never feel safe.
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7th September 05, 04:47 PM
#29
 Originally Posted by Woodsheal
...BTW, the original sgian dhu was the sgian achlais (sp?), or "armpit knife" and was definitely a concealed weapon of "last resort"...!
The spelling's OK (pronounced "skee-un akhlesh" - all run together as 'skeeunakhlesh'), but how do you have an "armpit knife"?
Could it just be an "arm knife" as in 'up your sleeve' (like with cards and card-sharps?), seeing as some consider the 'black' bit to mean or imply 'hidden'/'concealed'?
Although the usual word for "arm" is gàirdean, achlais can be used in this sort of way: as in chaidh iad a-mach ann an achlais a chèile, "they left with their arms round each other". And achlasan does mean "an armful".
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7th September 05, 04:56 PM
#30
 Originally Posted by Dreadbelly
I wish my life was that quiet and that peaceful.
I wish it could be for you too, Dread.
Not wishing to tempt fate, I believe I can truthfully state that I have never been physically threatened - although I was once propositioned by a prostitute in London's West End!!!!! ;)
[B][I][U]No. of Kilts[/U][/I][/B][I]:[/I] 102.[I] [B]"[U][B]Title[/B]"[/U][/B][/I]: Lord Hamish Bicknell, Laird of Lochaber / [B][U][I]Life Member:[/I][/U][/B] The Scottish Tartans Authority / [B][U][I]Life Member:[/I][/U][/B] The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society / [U][I][B]Member:[/B][/I][/U] The Ardbeg Committee / [I][B][U]My NEW Photo Album[/U]: [/B][/I][COLOR=purple]Sadly, and with great regret, it seems my extensive and comprehensive album may now have been lost forever![/COLOR]/
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