Scottish Sgian Dubh?

Jim McDougall · 29th April 2024, 03:59 PM

What an exciting Scottish knife!!! and as often the case with these Scottish weapons, a conundrum as far as classification. I would say it is distinctly 18th century, but hard to define without close examination forensically.

The Sgain Dudh (various spellings) has a history worthy of its interesting name which means loosely dark knife (Gaelic). There seems to be no consensus on the meaning however....some say the dark wood used for the hilt, some the darkened blade or the fact that 'dubh' has meaning as 'dark for black, hidden, unknown connotations.

It seems these small knives were of course initially associated with the three inch blade types that were worn in the right stocking of the Highlander.
According to the authority on Scottish arms James D. Forman "The Scottish Dirk". 'Historical Arms Series #26, 1991), there is little record of these as far as use or history until after 1820s. In this time the 'Celtic excitement' created by the great Sir Walter Scott as he influenced then King George IV, began the popularization of Scottish garb and regalia.

The 'skean dubh' itself has little known history except via that of the Scottish dirk. The earliest recording is with the romanticized (as always with Scottish themes via Sir Walter Scott) in letters by Captain Burt ("Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland" 1737) in which he refers to a 'skeen ochles', referring to the arm pit dagger or 'Oxter dagger, lowland term for arm pit). ...presuming this to be the ancestry of these clandestine knives.

Aside from this the first note of the skean dubh is in a painting of Col. Alastair MacDonald of Glengarry painted before 1812 (by Reaburn titled "The MacNab).

The most logical origin according to Forman is that these small knives came from the deer hunting tradition in Scotland, and the knives used by the servants in field dressing the game, thus 'gralloch'(=hunting) knives. Knives in this capacity were in pairs usually, often thrust into the stocking.

The masters apparently took this gesture into account in of course the hubris aligned with the hunt, and copied into their attire.

The Celtic interlace on this example typically suggests earlier make as later the shallow basket weave designs prevailed. Also, the interlace corresponds to the more decorative dirks. The larger size (most skean dubhs have 3" blades) suggests this may be skean dubh, but seems to be between firm classification. Whatever the case, in Scotland these edged weapons were for practical use, not so much for pretentious wear.

This is a classic example!!!!!

Calls for a bit of Drambuie!!!!

29th April 2024, 03:59 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,940	What an exciting Scottish knife!!! and as often the case with these Scottish weapons, a conundrum as far as classification. I would say it is distinctly 18th century, but hard to define without close examination forensically. The Sgain Dudh (various spellings) has a history worthy of its interesting name which means loosely dark knife (Gaelic). There seems to be no consensus on the meaning however....some say the dark wood used for the hilt, some the darkened blade or the fact that 'dubh' has meaning as 'dark for black, hidden, unknown connotations. It seems these small knives were of course initially associated with the three inch blade types that were worn in the right stocking of the Highlander. According to the authority on Scottish arms James D. Forman "The Scottish Dirk". 'Historical Arms Series #26, 1991), there is little record of these as far as use or history until after 1820s. In this time the 'Celtic excitement' created by the great Sir Walter Scott as he influenced then King George IV, began the popularization of Scottish garb and regalia. The 'skean dubh' itself has little known history except via that of the Scottish dirk. The earliest recording is with the romanticized (as always with Scottish themes via Sir Walter Scott) in letters by Captain Burt ("Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland" 1737) in which he refers to a 'skeen ochles', referring to the arm pit dagger or 'Oxter dagger, lowland term for arm pit). ...presuming this to be the ancestry of these clandestine knives. Aside from this the first note of the skean dubh is in a painting of Col. Alastair MacDonald of Glengarry painted before 1812 (by Reaburn titled "The MacNab). The most logical origin according to Forman is that these small knives came from the deer hunting tradition in Scotland, and the knives used by the servants in field dressing the game, thus 'gralloch'(=hunting) knives. Knives in this capacity were in pairs usually, often thrust into the stocking. The masters apparently took this gesture into account in of course the hubris aligned with the hunt, and copied into their attire. The Celtic interlace on this example typically suggests earlier make as later the shallow basket weave designs prevailed. Also, the interlace corresponds to the more decorative dirks. The larger size (most skean dubhs have 3" blades) suggests this may be skean dubh, but seems to be between firm classification. Whatever the case, in Scotland these edged weapons were for practical use, not so much for pretentious wear. This is a classic example!!!!! Calls for a bit of Drambuie!!!!