What is the Sgian Dubh (or Skean Dhu, etc.)?

The sgian dubh is a sheath knife about 6″ long, traditionally worn in the right sock with the handle showing, though strictly speaking a left-hander could wear his on the left. These blades were once hidden in a pocket under the armpit, but it has become customary to position the sgian dubh more openly as a courtesy. Its only known use today is to cut the Haggis at Burns Suppers. Blunted or plastic imitations are common elsewhere, but most models we offer are authentic and come with high quality steel blades that can be sharpened and used for practical purposes. Your choice is entirely a matter of taste.

The name comes from the Gaelic for black (dubh) dagger (sgian) with the blackness referring not only to the hard jet black bog oak from which handles were often made, but also to the covert manner in which the weapon was often concealed (i.e. ‘black’ as in blackmail or black market). Often hidden in the armpit, the sgian dubh might well be retained for safety when being entertained at a host’s home, but kept on more open show such as in the top of the stocking - hence its customary positioning today.

The ornamentation seen here, as well as on other components of traditional Highland Dress, was more than decorative. In a society where banks or other places of safe keeping barely existed and paper money widely distrusted, the embellishment of personal apparel with rare jewels and expensive metals was a practical means to carry wealth on the person… where it could be easily defended.

For more help, watch our Video on How to Wear a Kilt Outfit.