Sgian Dubhs

Sgian Dubhs

The Sgian Dubh (black dagger)

The dagger was called this because the handle was invariably made of bog oak which of course was jet black in appearance. This was a suitable very hard wood useful for the purpose. The sgian dubh was invariably carried in a place of concealment very often under his armpit. This gives support to the view that "black" does not refer to the color of the handle but implies covert or concealed.

When the Highlander visited a house on his travels having deposited all his other weapons at the front door he did not divest himself of his concealed stabbing dagger, since in these far off days it was unsafe to be ever totally unarmed, not because he feared his host but rather because he feared intrusions from outside. Accordingly although retaining the dagger, he out of courtesy to his host, removed it from its place of concealment and put it somewhere where his host could see it invariably in his stocking on the right hand side if he was right handed and on the left hand side if he was left handed.

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Note: 1, 2, 3 and 7 are no longer available.

4. Staghorn Thistle Top. Genuine Staghorn handled Sgian Dubhs. The staghorn is finished with blackwood and comes with a black sheath. Price: $63.00	5. Staghorn w/ Stag Head Top. Genuine Staghorn handled Sgian Dubh. The staghorn is finished with blackwood and comes with a black sheath. Price: $63.00
6. Celtic Knotwork Top. Synthetic Staghorn handle with Celtic knotwork on top. Poem by Robert Burns inscribed on the back. The words are: "My heart's in the Highlands, My heart is not here; My heart's in the Highlands, a chasing the dear." Robby Burns 1759-1796. Price: $52.00	8. Dress Sgian Dubh. Fittings are of polished pewter with synthetic handle and an imitation Cairngorm stone; boxed. The stones come in blue, green, amethyst and amber. Price: $50.00
9. Dress Sgian Dubh. Dress sgian dubh with synthetic handle and polished pewter Celtic design fittings. Price: $45.00	10. Dress Sgian Dubh. Dress sgian dubh with synthetic handle and polished pewter thistle design fittings; boxed. $45.00
11. Dress Sgian Dubh. This is a new style with pewter handle in a Celtic design. Stone in the handle come in glue and green. Comes with a box. Price: $55.00

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