Sgian dubh (knife)

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Sgian dubh , the traditional Scottish stocking knife
The sgian dubh is worn in the right stocking
Scottish Skean-type knives

Sgian dubh (other spellings: sgian dhub , skhian dubh , skein dubh or skene du or skean dhu ) is a traditional Scottish knife , also known as the “stocking dagger”.

history

The sgian dubh has been part of the kilt equipment of the Highland Scots since the 18th century . It was worn undercover as the Disarming Act prohibited Scots from carrying weapons. The handle is traditionally made of ebony , the scabbard is made of wood covered with leather. The metal fittings are made of silver-plated brass .

The name is Gaelic and means "black dagger", although it is not certain what black is referring to. Most of the handles of the Sgian dubhs were and are in fact black, but it could come from the wider meaning of black , namely hidden or hidden . The Sgian dubh is said to have developed from the less well-known Sgian achlais (also known as the “sleeve dagger”), which the Scots carried under the armpit up to the 17th century - as a tool and cutlery, but also as a secretly worn weapon that can be drawn quickly and which was of a similar nature and only a little longer than the Sgian dubh . The Skean achlais is another variant of these small daggers worn on the body.

Courtesy and etiquette used to require that male guests and visitors surrender their weapons when entering a private or public house. The dirk , which is also typical of the country , is significantly larger than the Sgian dubh and was usually worn openly on the belt, was willingly given in such cases. The Sgian dubh was kept on, however, because one could never be safe from attacks. Among friends, they took him out of his hiding place as a vote of confidence and wore him visibly on the left or right in the stocking.

Today the Sgian dubh is one of the traditional knives and is usually worn in the right stocking on the side of the dominant hand.

literature

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