What do you know about these knives, however they may be spelled?

skean dubh

pronounced (Skeen' Doo), can also be spelt dhu, can be translated as a 'black knife', was a weapon originally hidden in the folds of the tartan. These days it is usually worn inserted in the top of the right kilt hose ( sock ) as a part of the Scottish outfit.






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If you back through time you will discover the writings , It is translated as Black Knife, there were 3 knives that were caried during those times. The Dirk and the sword were the other two, The Dirk and Sword were weapons the had to be surrendered when entering a dweling but the Knife you are refering to was kept as it was generally used while eating.

Actually the sword was called a claymore, and was not as long as a typycal sword but, was double edged. I think... don't quote me but, I think it was about as long as your forarm.

When steel was hand made from iron ore then converted to steel with the addition of , usually dried bones, there was always a fair amount of not quite iron or steel, especially around the old Bloomery sites. It wasn't good bright steel that would take a good edge, and not shatter in your hand in the shock of battle, but, it would make a decent enough close in stabbing weapon, that used up all of the painfully acquired metal. This sub-standard metal was quite black in colour, and coarse of grain, so the sgian dubh, was a black- bladed knife, not always a black handled one of bog oak or pine. Alternative names for the knives were, jochty leg, or oxter blade(oxter, being the armpit in English). The legendary claymore was replaced by the basket hilted broadsword, sometimes backsword, as many were ground with an edge to the fore, and the top half, or third of the back edge sharpened to preserve the strength of the blade whilst giving a useful attacking edge to the backswing. The dirk, which some say developed from the medieval Dudgeon dagger, to my mind, was the result of coming up against the Roman gladius, and the similarities are many, though, once again the classic dirk blade was one and a half edged, frequently with blade catching ridges on the back edge, above the swollen haunches of the handle, which did not catch in the phillimores' folds. as a crosspiece guard would have done. Many cultures have done likewise. Combined with a targe usually bearing a six inch spike in its boss, the Highland Charge was a pretty effective tactic. Cut down with the broadsword whilst rushing at the enemy line, stab with the targe, drop your sword if in close and use the targe spike and dirk in close. If in a tight scrum, drop the dirk, and use the sgian dhu to cut and stab .Hope this helps