Sgian Dubh is a Scottish gaelic term. It directly translates as sgian - knife, dubh - black so black knife, however, in this context dubh takes its secondary meaning so it translates as 'hidden knife'. The sgian dubh would be a small knife hidden in your socks or boots. It is said that historically Scottish people would leave their weapons at the door when visiting a home. A sgian dubh was a hidden knife that would be taken inside as added protection. This may or may not be true but the knife was used for practical purposes such as cutting fruit and vegetables, cutting other materials used in day-to-day life and hunting.
Nowadays, a sgian dubh is usually just ornamental and part of the traditional Highland dress of a Scotsman. Most kilt-wearing Scots have a sgian dubh as part of their kilt accessories when wearing their traditional dress. The sgian dubh is placed inside your sock with only the handle showing so as the name suggests, it is still hidden.
If you hire a dress kilt, you will be given a plastic sgian dubh along with other accessories such as a sporran.
The Real Sgian Dubh Company designs, handcrafts and sells beautiful, fully functioning sgian dubhs from their online sgian dubh shop . Their sgian dubhs are made from buffalo horn, wood, silver and steel. Their designs are intentionally simple and elegant allowing the beauty of the natural materials and the skills of their craftsmen to shine through. There will be no plastic! Their sgian dubhs also make great presents for Scotsmen or kilt wearers celebrating 18 and 21 birthdays, for grooms and best men on wedding days and other similar occasions.
Alastair from The Real Sgian Dubh Company says he was always interested in traditional processes and enjoyed craft, knives and natural materials. When he lost his plastic sgian dubh with its fake stone he vowed never to wear plastic again. Then 10 years later when travelling in the Himalayas he came across the amazing knife makers of Nepal and the idea of starting his own sgian dubh company was born.
