Sgian Dubhs

A good sgian dubh (pronounced as "skean doo") is going to be expensive. I personally carry an all-purpose, top quality pocket knife wherever I go and, therefore, a sgian dubh is important to me, otherwise I feel like I've forgotten something. I have always believed a gentleman always carries a sharp pocket knife and a handkerchief.

A good sgian dhub should have a handle either of hardwood, horn, or antler, and a blade of fine cutlery steel. Good stainless blades of 440C, ATS34, 154CM or 440V are ideal since plain high carbon steel is very difficult to maintain in a knife that sits right next to your skin in a leather sheath. Even some of the stainless blades will rust when subjected to sweat, humid conditions and storage in a leather sheath. The blade should be honed to razor-sharpness and is there not as ornamentation but to be used. The regimental sgian dubhs used by the Scottish army are excellent.

A sgian dhub is worn in the right kilt stocking or, if you are left handed, in the left kilt stocking. The handle should protrude only and inch or two above the top of the stocking. I frequently see people only place the sheath portion in the hose with the whole handle sticking out. Sometimes a man will have a sgian dubh which has a clan badge or another type of art work mounted on the handle of the sgian dubh and will attempt to wear the wee knife with the handle poking out, so the artwork can be seen. This is a good way to lose the knife and it is really not intended to be worn in this fashion. Make sure the garter is snug enough to hold the knife otherwise you will find it has succumbed to gravity and slipped down inside your sock, somewhere around the ankle.

The sgian dhub, like the sporran, should be matched to the level of formality of dress. For instance, if you are attending a formal occasion, then the sgian dhub should be one that is mounted in silver or gold with fancy inlays or inset with jewels. Most frequently, sgian dubhs are mounted with a cairngorm stone on top of the handle. A plain hardwood handle with inlay would suffice for almost any occasion. The antler handled sgian dubhs should be reserved for informal daywear.

The sgian dubh is really a utility knife. Unfortunately, given the level of paranoia of law enforcement, etc., we really must use wisdom when and where to wear the sgian dubh. I have participated kilted in activities at our State Capitol Building and I wisely left my sgian dubh in the boot of my car. Quite frankly, our Scottish ancestors were not fans of weapons control and neither am I! As Americans, our Second Amendment, a significant part of the Bill of Rights, gives us the right to keep and bear arms. Sometimes our elected officials have gotten downright silly in regulating weapons. In the wake of 9/11/01, this has become especially true. However, I am reminded of what one of our founding fathers, Ben Franklin who said, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety". For me, the sgian dubh counts as both! Liberty and Safety! Also, that wee bit of steel, wood, silver and stone is a connection to my Scottish Ancestors!

Many modern writers, when discussing sgian dubhs, erroneously state that they are of relatively modern origin, coming into vogue after the proscription of 1747. This is definitely not true and can be evidenced by observing the sgian dhub belonging to Rob Roy on display in Sir Walter Scott's home, Abbotsford. When I was in the library at Abbotsford, I took many photographs of this sgian dubh which is located in a flat glass case near a window. While this knife it is slightly larger than a modern sgian dubh and has a clip pointed blade, it is clearly a sgian dubh.

Many of the sgian dubhs seen for sale at Highland Games are a pretty poor substitute for the real thing. These sgian dubhs have plastic handles that are impressed to look like carved wood and have imitation stones and blades made of very soft, poorly tempered steel. The situation has gotten worse of late with the introduction of sgian dubhs made in China, India and Pakistan. Some of these have brightly colored stones of nearly every hue set in the handle. Some have blades made of soft pot metal which will not take an edge and are totally useless as a knife. However, there are exceptions! The Paul Chen sgian dubh (which is made in China) is nice and has a Damascus steel blade. Also, Cold Steel used to make an excellent sgian dubh called the "Culloden" which has now been discontinued, but one can still find these being sold on E-bay. Cold steel now makes a sgian dubh of a slightly different design called the "Brave Heart".

Finding a good sgian dhub can be difficult, however there are a number of good custom knife makers in this country and in Scotland that can make anything you want, or if you are lucky, you can happen on a good regimental or civilian sgian dubh made with quality materials. Know anyone that has a good regimental sgian dubh for sale for $25.00!? Actually this was a running joke I had with people back in the early to mid-1990s. However, around 1998, I ran into a really good deal on a sgian dubh on E-bay! It was a civilian, dress, sgian dubh in excellent condition, it had sterling silver fittings and a real cairngorm stone on top. I traced the hallmarks and found out it was made by T.K. Ebbutt which is one of the workshops of Hamilton & Inches silversmiths in Edinburgh, Scotland. I bought it for $75! What a treasure! (Copyright 2006 Thomas G. Mungall, III, M.Ed.)

CuldeeDeacon †