Sgian Dubhs
- Sgian Dubh Made in Scotland
- Silver Crest Handcrafted in Canada
- Available in 300+ Clan Crests
- Made to Order – Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery
- Made in the UK
- Thistle Knot Handle
- Real steel ornamental blade and plastic sheath
- 6 colors of gems, to accent your Highland attire
- In the case these are out of stock please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery
- Polished Pewter Three Thistles Kilt Pin
- Real steel ornamental blade and plastic sheath with 6 colored stones to choose from
- Made in Scotland, with quality materials
- Perfect set to compliment your Highland attire.
- In the case these are out of stock please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery
- Each Stag Handle Sgian Dubh is unique.
- It’s hand-carved in Scotland by highly skilled craftsmen from the antler of a red stag.
- We pair this piece with a Damascus steel blade and embossed leather sheath.
- The perfect accessory to complete your Celtic outfit, it tucks nicely into kilt hose.
- Well-made Sgian Dubh with 3.25 inch stainless steel blade
- Features a bronze thistle badge design on the handle
- Comes with a sleek, bronze finish plastic sheath for your convenience
- Affordable yet good quality, perfect to start your collection
- Our most ingenious sgian dubh lookalike, finish off your outfit with this non-traditional, stainless steel Clan Crest Sgian Brew and be the hero when nobody else has a bottle opener!
- Choose from hundreds of clan crests to customize to your personal ancestry and share your family’s pride. Made to order just for you, so please allow 4-10 weeks for delivery.
- Crafted from high-quality stainless steel and embellished as ornately as a sgian dubh—guaranteed to fool your friends into thinking it’s the real deal.
- Made in Scotland, so it kind of is the real deal.
- Our most ingenious sgian dubh lookalike, finish off your outfit with this non-traditional, stainless steel Coat of Arms Sgian Brew and be the hero when nobody else has a bottle opener!
- Choose from several Coat of Arms to customize to your personal ancestry and share your family’s pride. Made to order just for you, so please allow 4-10 weeks for delivery.
- Crafted from high-quality stainless steel and embellished as ornately as a sgian dubh—guaranteed to fool your friends into thinking it’s the real deal.
- Made in Scotland, so it’s kind of the real deal.
- Made in Scotland
- Celtic Daywear Sgian Dubh with Brown Resin Handle
- Real steel ornamental blade & Real Leather Sheath
- Supplied in a Sgian Dubh Co presentation box
- Made in the UK
- Pewter Knot Handle
- Real steel ornamental blade and plastic sheath
- 6 colors of gems
- The Clan Crest Antiqued Pewter Flask, made in Scotland of lead-free high-quality pewter
- The flask holds 5 oz and comes with a funnel in a gift box
- Customize with your Clan (many options available—see drop-down list)
- A must-have to tuck away in your Sporran or pocket
- Clan Crest Standard Sgian Dubh (sock knife) made in Scotland with over 100 clan crests to choose
- Quality craftsmanship, affordable and practical with a stainless steel blade
- Antiqued metal mounts and yellow (plastic) jewel top; fits nicely into kilt hose
- Chromed metal accents and Scottish thistle detailing (the symbol for nobility and courage)
- The perfect accessory to complete a traditional Highland outfit, the Clan Crest Stag Handle fits nicely into your hose.
- Choose from over 200 clan crests to set in the pommel.
- This sgian dubh boasts a handle made with durable resin, resembling a staghorn.
- Sheath it stainless steel blade in a genuine brown leather sheath.
- Made in the UK
- Pewter Knot Handle
- Real steel ornamental blade and plastic sheath
- On sale while supplies last
- Well-made Sgian Dubh made in Scotland with 3.5 inches real Damascus steel blade
- Genuine stag antler handle for a unique and one of a kind authentic look
- Comes with a leather sheath embossed with a traditional Celtic knot design
- Perfect for collectors, practical use, and traditional reenactments
- Strong, Durable Bottle Opener
- Sgian Dubh Handle
- Black Plastic Handle with Metal Detailing
- Practical and Decorative
- Celtic Knotwork in Metal and Plastic
- Faux blackwood sgian dubh
- Good quality plastic handle instead of real wood
- Decorative faux bone top
- Good quality stainless steel blade
- Real leather Celtic embossed sheath
- A good knife for a good price
- Looks very much like real blackwood
If you have questions, we have answers. Many people are interested in kilts, and all things Celtic, but are unsure of the history of this famous garment. Read on for some answers to our most commonly asked questions.
Wearing anything that can be construed as a weapon can be tricky. The Sgian Dubh can be classified as a knife or a dagger, depending on where in the world you are. Daggers are illegal in many places. However, there are places with “zero tolerance” when it comes to weapons, such as schools or airports. Always do some research on where you are going before you wear your Sgian Dubh.
A Dirk is a very sharp, dagger-like knife with either a single or double-edge construction. The Sgian Dubh is typically smaller. Historically, the Dirk was worn on the belt, and the Sgian Dubh would be worn in a sock. Both could be considered daggers, but the Dirk is slightly larger and meant to be more dangerous. The Dirk is a weapon while a Sgian Dubh might be regarded as the last defense or for eating.
Which side you wear your Sgian Dubh traditionally depends on whether you are right or left-handed. The Sgian Dubh is worn inside your sock on the outside of your leg. You should see two to three inches of the blade above your sock. Wear your Sgian Dubh on the side of your dominant hand for easy access.
There is no hard and fast rule as to how long a Sgian Dubh has to be. You will mainly find Sgian Dubh’s blade to be around 3.5 inches and the handle to be a similar length. Overall, the entire length will be between six and eight inches. They are usually not made with thick blades, and there is typically not a guard.
In Scottish Gaelic, dubh has more than one meaning. Traditionally, it means “black.” However, it can also mean “hidden.” In the case of a Sgian Dubh, it is more likely to mean hidden, as the Sgian Dubh is worn partially hidden in a kilt hose or sock. Sgian means knife. So, a Sgian Dubh is a hidden knife or a black knife, depending on your translation.
Gaelic is not a commonly spoken language. Many people in Scotland have learned it as part of their heritage or to honor their past. However, speaking Gaelic is not common practice. Sgian Dubh is pronounced skee-an-DOO.
There are different potential origins for the Sgian Dubh. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Scottish men carried a sgian-achlais, a slightly larger dagger concealed in their upper sleeve or jacket lining. There was also a smaller knife in a hunting knife set that resembled a Sgian Dubh. It was customary to remove weapons upon entering another's home. A concealed weapon was useful for extra protection in these cases.
Today, the Sgian Dubh is considered an ornamental weapon. Its origins are debated. There is evidence it was used as a knife to skin game after hunting. Many higher-ranking Scottish officers would not wear one as it was a sign of middle-class, as they would never have skinned their own kill. As time passed, however, it appears to be considered more a dagger and used to show wealth based on how decorated it was.
A Sgian Dubh was either used as a hidden dagger as a last-ditch defense or as a skinning knife in a hunting set. The Sgian Dubh was small and easy to conceal and carry. It makes sense it could have been used for hunting. There is also evidence it was used as a daily knife for eating or mundane activities. Sgian Dubhs became standard for many Scottish and Highland people around the mid-1800s.
The actual Sgian Dubh, as we know it today, a small dagger or knife worn in the sock or kilt hose and partially visible, was evident in the early 1800s. There is a portrait of the 15th Chief of MacDonnells of Glengarry wearing two Sgian Dubhs in his sock. By the 1850s, Sgian Dubhs were commonly worn with Highland Dress.