Visiting Scotland: Sgian Dubh's and Do(bh)n'ts

**creagdhubh** · 15th July 13, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I had never given the "lost" situation a thought until now!

I would be absolutely devasted if some of my family kilt attire went AWOL! The cost matters not-----well, OK, it does-----but the emotional cost at the loss of family things would really hurt. Perhaps this is where the idea of not wearing the kilt outwith the Highlands came from?

Perhaps that's it, Jock!

**Jordan** · 15th July 13, 08:09 AM

If your not supposed/allowed to wear a kilt outwith the highlands should I expect to be joined by the kilt Polis seeing as I am currently sat outside of a pub in the heart of Englandshire?

No Sgian Dubh but that's more to do with the hassles of attempting to get it through in my hand luggage at Inverness than any worry of getting lifted by the local constabulary.

**Jock Scot** · 15th July 13, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by Jordan

If your not supposed/allowed to wear a kilt outwith the highlands should I expect to be joined by the kilt Polis seeing as I am currently sat outside of a pub in the heart of Englandshire?

No Sgian Dubh but that's more to do with the hassles of attempting to get it through in my hand luggage at Inverness than any worry of getting lifted by the local constabulary.

I am reliably informed that The Kilt Police only operate along the Highland line and due to cutbacks have no KP Air Arm(KPAAM) at this present moment in time.

**Jordan** · 15th July 13, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I am reliably informed that The Kilt Police only operate along the Highland line and due to cutbacks have no KP Air Arm(KPAAM) at this present moment in time.

That's good, I was worrying about having to hide my stash of Grouse if I went "On the run" so to speak...

**OC Richard** · 15th July 13, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I had never given the "lost" situation a thought until now!

I lived through it and will never check baggage again if I can help it.

Many years ago I flew from Palm Desert to Lake Tahoe but my suitcase went on a grand tour of the US Southwest. Every day I went to the airport and got an update on my luggage's peregrinations, a fascinating holiday for one of us! My suitcase finally arrived, one week later, on the day I flew home.

**cruachan69** · 17th July 13, 01:09 PM

Here's a thought for all those who own a nice Sgian Dubh but can't take it through customs.

Apply firm grasp to Sgian dubh with one hand, apply firm grasp of hardwood with the other, apply said Sgian dubh to piece of hardwood repeatedly until something that appears the shape of a Sgian dubh has appeared in said hardwood.

Voila! One wooden Sgian dubh... harmless and detector friendly!

Not only is it a great way to make use of your real Sgian dubh, you've now produced a family heirloom formed by your own hand!

I've done it.. and I love my "Oaken Dubh"!

**tripleblessed** · 19th July 13, 02:49 AM

I had promised myself I would stay out of this. Oh, well. This discussion always mystifies me. Nothing _
N-O-T-H-N-G is a weapon until it is used to attack someone. More people are killed each year by alcohol in this
country alone than are killed worldwide by knives like a sgian. And I never see posts about not discussing alcohol.
Since I was eight, I have rarely been without a knife on me. At times during my working career, one might have
counted four. Different jobs, different tools. For years, I wore on my belt a lock-back with a 4" blade. In Georgia,
any lock-back is illegal. Period. Length irrelevant. I always had mine on,and worked around sworn officers all the time.
Never once a problem. I was told several times that if I ever started anything, that would give them an excuse to
take me downtown, but they knew me well enough to knowthat will never happen. I worked venues all over the country.
Never once a problem. Streets of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles. No problems. In England and Scotland
I did not wear my lock-back, but was never without at least my pocket knife. The only mention there was at Heathrow,
where I was told I needed to put it in my checked luggage for return to States. These days that's standard, of course, and
not in Government buildings.

In 58 years of carrying knives, I have never once attacked anyone, nor do I plan to in the next 58. As long as I don't,
it's not a weapon. PERIOD. UK police have never disagreed with me, and have been clear that the way I comported myself
made it clear I was no problem. YMMV. All that said, your comfort should guide you, and one must always be prudent and well-behaved. Always.

**OC Richard** · 19th July 13, 04:20 AM

Originally Posted by cruachan69

"Oaken Dubh"

Sgian-dharaich "Oaken Knife"

**Father Bill** · 19th July 13, 04:39 AM

Careful there, Triple - we're talking about the rules in Scotland, and you've brought in a lot of American examples. Watch out for rule 5 folks.

**tripleblessed** · 19th July 13, 06:29 AM

My apologies, Father. In reading my post and reading rule 5, I am seeing no conflict. Perhaps I misunderstood
what I thought I wrote. I have announced no preference for one system over another politically, and didn't get
into religion at all. All history, my own experience. Others had postulated hypothetical events and scenarios
that could happen somewhere, sometime, somehow. My intent was to say that my experience leads me to
believe that in Scotland, England, and the US, police officers tend to understand both the letter and the spirit of
the law, and have room for discretion and common sense. One's own inappropriate behavior is usually the trigger
for discussion and closer inspection; without same I have found law enforcement to be generally friendly and
accommodating, from Scotland to Siberia or Savannah to Sydney. If you feel I am misreading, I would welcome
a PM of clarification. Or, a PM requesting phone info, and I'm happy to listen. There is, after all, a fairly persistent
rumor that I once before made an error. This being, you understand, MANY years before my computer days.