Hi Folks,
An interesting thread so far with great details emerging
Jim is right about the sgian dubh being a hidden knife originally, and about dubh not referring to the colour. The first meaning of the word black in almost any cultural language is that of dark or hidden, lacking the light of that which is good.
Even in English, we have terms such as blackmarket, blackmail and blaggard (from blackguard), referring to sinister dealings.
The tradition of this knife being worn in the hose though is not as ancient as often imagined.
Originally, ie. when carried by Jacobites through the C17th and C18th, this was a knife that you would carry on you somewhere known only to yourself. This could be somewhere in your plaid, sheathed behind a belt, or sewn into your shirt or even bonnet.
This way, if you willingly gave up your obvious arms of gun, sword and dirk, you still had a handy wee tool for use when necessary.
There is a contemporary reference to the knife being called a sgian ochles, referring to it being carried near the armpit in that case. Rob Roy MacGregor also made good his escape from captivity at one point because he surrendered his weapons but still had a wee sgian hidden on him to cut himself free.
The tradition of the knife being worn in the hose is a regimental tradition, from mid - late C18th after the formation and regulation of uniform and accoutrements of the original Highland regiments.
The very earliest of these was the famous Black Watch, which was formed in 1739. The soldiers were allowed their own weaponry at that time though, and the pattern and regulation of weapon types and uniformity of their carriage was not addressed until later.
One of these regulations regarded the small knife, which was to be worn in proud regimental fashion, on display for all to see, in the top of the hose. The form and style of the hilts of both sgian dubh and dirk developed more at this time (late C18th) to stand out more and highlight their appearance with bright military uniform, such as the addition of silver studs, silver banded tops and large stones inset. The top of the sgian dubh and dirk even became offset at an angle to show off inset glass or quartz stones.
Like most military regulation dress codes, these became popular almost immediately in civilian society and adopted as the latest fashion, particularly at a time when the notion of Scottish romanticism was perpetuated by English society throughout the UK.
The sgian dubh and dirk and even the sword, are all cultural sidearms that the patriotic Jacobite today is still entitled within the law to wear with the kilt as part of national dress.
Whenever you might see myself wearing the kilt, my own dirk is always there at my side. You won`t see a sgian dubh in my hose, but that doesnae mean that I dinnae have one!
All the best,
Macdonald