The Sgian Dubh

The sgian dubh (ski-en do) is a small, single-edged knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland Dress on the top of the sock on the side of the dominant hand. The name comes from the Gaelic for small knife, sgian, and dubh, for black.  This could have been derived from the blackish bog-oak handles sgians may have been originally made from or alternatively dubh may refer to the sgians hidden or clandestine use as small well hidden weapons of defence.  Alternatively spelt skean dhu these knives are more commonly referred to as sgian dubh's and are worn around the world today with pride as part of the Scottish Highland Dress.

The Idea

Christopher Kidd grew up in Argyll, Scotland and is bound to the culture, roots and history of the West Coast of Scotland, the home of the Dalriada kingdom.  Now located in Nova Scotia, Canada, Christopher takes inspiration from the new kingdom of Scotland created by the thousands of Scots who made their home here and integrated the traditions of the old world with the promise of the new world. 

Dalriada Sgian Dubhs was born out of Christopher's desire to continue the traditions of both Scotland and Nova Scotia.  He integrates traditional designs, materials, and techniques with the best of new and modern innovations to produce exceptional sgian dubhs.  Christopher strives to use local woods, local stone and local artisans to create some of the finest, one of a kind sgians ever to be worn with a kilt.

Our History

The Gaelic kingdom of Dalriada included parts of western Scotland and Northern Ireland. The inhabitants of Dalriada were often referred to as Scots (Scoti in Latin), a name originally used by Roman and Greek writers for the Irish who raided Roman Britain, and as a result Dalriada has come to be known as the first kingdom of the Scots.  The kingdom's independence ended in the Viking Age, as it merged with the lands of the Picts to form the Kingdom of Alba and the beginnings of modern day Scotland.

Nova Scotia (Latin for "New Scotland") is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and constitutes one of the four Atlantic Canada provinces. Home to the Mi'kmaq Nation, Nova Scotia provided a new start to the many Scottish immigrants moving to begin a new life following the Highland Clearances of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.