Sgian Dubh, Dress Stone Top

$50.00

Sgian Dubh with Amber

Dress Sgian Dubh Stone Top.   

Faux African Black Wood handle. Blade is forged at Sheffield in the UK.. The Sheath is Hard Resin with Leather Imprint. Colored Stone Cap, Saltire Flag, Shamrock or Pip Top.

Many Options!!! 

Packaged in a decorative box.  

 Finish:

  •  Finish Antique
  • Chrome

Stone top colors:

  • Amethyst
  • Blue
  • Black
  • Emerald
  • Topaz

OR

Decorative tops:

  • Saltine Blue
  • Saltine Black
  • Shamrock
  • Pip Top

SGIAN DUBH

Never has one piece of weaponry evoked so many different spellings - some variations are Skene Du, Skein Dubh, Skean Dhu, Sgian Dubh and Skhian Dubh. Phonetically it is pronounced scheeeian doo and everyone has a favorite spelling. The most commonly used, however, is Sgian Dubh. The meaning however is clear: "Sgian" means knife or dagger or blade and "Dubh" means black.

There is a theory which suggests that the Sgian Dubh evolved from the sgian achlais (ochles), the "armpit dagger" mentioned in connection with the Scots in the 17th and 18th century.

This was a knife slightly larger than the Sgian Dubh and was carried in the upper sleeve of the jacket, under the left arm. It is believed that this is the same knife, Scottish women carried under the apron of her wraparound "kilted" skirt, along with her purse. Just as with men, they would have to carry their own eating utensil, and many a Scots woman had need for a weapon. 

No knife still exists that can be identified as a sgian achlais (armpit knife).  However, it does fit the description of a secret, or "black" knife thus - Dubh. Courtesy of the times required that when entering the home of a friend or casual acquaintance, no weapons should remain concealed. Some say that when the armpit dagger was removed, the top of the men’s hose on the right leg, was a convenient place to display it, securely held by the garter (or flashes). Displaying it thus, showed that the Scot had no dark intentions at the gathering.