The Great Kilt, when belting up...

[CollinMacD]

I purchased the great kilt and understand who to put it on properly, but my question that nobody seems to be able to answer is this. When you put the belt under the kilt, what type of belt is used, a normal everyday leather belt, or is there a Scottish type of belt that is used, now remember this belt you do not see, I am not talking about the normal 3 inch Scottish belt, but a smaller leather belt the goes under the Kilt to hold it in place on your waist...appreciate any good answers... FYI I am doing a Jacobite impression, so I would like to be period correct. Thanks.

[Luke MacGillie]

Perhaps?

There is a bit of evidence that belted plaids had some form of a interior belt and or drawstrings. Or perhaps even belt loops on the outside.

Memoirs de la Maison Grant

"........ the broad belt within the keepers, the gentleman stands with nothing on but his shirt;
"when the servant gets the plaid and belt round, he must hold both ends of the belt till the gentleman adjusts and puts across in proper manner the two folds or flaps before;

"that done, he tightens the belt to the degree wanted; then the purse and purse-belt is put on loosely; afterwards, the coat and waistcoat is put on and the great low part hanging down behind, where a loop is fixed, is to be pinned up to the right shoulder, immediately under the shoulder strap ....

"that properly adjusted, the pointed corner or flap that hangs at the left thigh to be taken through the purse belt and to hang, having a cast-back very near as low as the belt to be pinned in such a manner that the corner or low-flyer behind hang as low as the kilt or hough (knee) and no lower; putting at the same time an awkward bulky part of the plaid on the left side, back from the haunch, stuffed under the purse belt.

"When the shoulder or sword-belt is put on, the flyer that hangs behind is to be taken through, and hang over the shoulder-belt. NB No kilt ought ever to hang lower than the hough - scarcely that far down.


Here are a couple articles that deal with drawstrings:


https://albanach.org/did-the-early-b...ce9#.ss9yhth76

http://www.scottishtartans.co.uk/A_H..._MacGregor.pdf


This is the only scottish belt and buckle I have a photo of, from Gunnister man:



The buckle is pretty much what reenactors call a "French Marine" buckle, but does not have the tabs extending out from the central bar, which none of the known buckles recovered in Canada have either. When I was doing a French marine impression, I filed off those tabs. See B-191 here: http://www.jarnaginco.com/18th%20century%20buckles1.htm

Hope this helps

[Luke MacGillie]

Here is another option for a buckle, actually copied off of a period example recovered from French Canada, see the slightly different dimensions. The Jarnigan buckle with the tabs removed is actually a better example for a known, documented Scottish Buckle

http://www.theroyalsword.com/buckles-etc/bouc-01.html

[CollinMacD]

Thanks all for your help. I hope to receive in soon, and the practice of getting it on starts. So I can use just a plain belt as you cannot see it. Great... Thanks.