Alright, here's the deal (I'm on the 360).

I have a new character (who's now about 6th level). For reasons that aren't important, I really, *really* want two Skyforge steel daggers. The problem is I will not join the Companions (for similar reasons why I lifted a full suit of Thieve's Guild Armor without joining the Thieve's Guild).

Aela and Brill are supposed to carry them, and the Wiki implies they can be pick-pocketed. When I first saw Aela outside Whiterun fighting the giant, she had a bow out. I looked in her inventory, and there was the dagger - but at 15% success. I figured, 'No big deal, I'll wait until I get my PP skill a little higher'. Now that I've gone back, she (and Brill) are clearly wearing the daggers, but they do not show up in their inventory. So I...uh....'obtained' a couple of steel war axes, and reverse-pocketed them into both inventories. But despite a couple of loading screens to refresh the characters, the daggers still aren't showing up in their inventories.

TL;DR - How do I get the Skyforge steel daggers to show up in their inventories?

do you have the perk to remove equipted items?

If you don't, and you see they wearing them. thats why it doesn't appear in their inventory.

You need ths pickpocket perk to remove equipted items

So they won't automatically equip whatever item in their inventory has the highest damage?

I was under that impression...

most NPC if carrying a bow and a dagger, will equip the close range combat weapon and only the bow if involved in ranged combat. I have a follower carry both and will watch them equip a hunter bow to use ranged attacks and then switch to the dragonbone greatsword when in close combat.

When you first meet Aela, she was taking on the giant with a bow which is why you saw the dagger in her inventory. Now that she hasn't left Whiterun, she will default to the dagger. I've never seen her carry the bow on her back after the first encounter with her.

@OP - I don't know if matters for your purposes or not, but IIRC the Skyforge Steel daggers can't be improved to increase their damage output (aside from enchanting them).

Brill removes his dagger while sleeping.

@Resident - Yeah, I just thought that they would equip a better melee weapon if placed in their inventory, thereby making the 'lesser' melee weapon (Skyforge daggers) available for pickpocketing. Apparently that's not the case.

@Lyn - Yup, I know. I generally avoid smithing (and enchanting). It's fine for others, but for me personally it ruins the fun of finding things, as well throw off combat power balance (making things too easy). Just my opinion, and how I like to play.

@Prince - I'm not sure where he sleeps. At any rate, his dagger is never in his inventory for pick-pocketing when he's awake. Even after reversing a better weapon onto him.

can't you just buy them from eorlund?

OP stated that this character will not be joining the Companions, and Eorlund doesn't sell Skyforge weapons to outsiders. Thus the need for sticky fingers.

ah I see, I always join the companions so I was unaware eorlund doesn't sell skyforge steel to outsiders, I thought it was leveled merchandise.

Brill sleeps in Jorrvaskr, in Vignar's room.