Cowboy Action Shooting and kilts...

[Dark Alley Dan]

...has anyone seen this done?

Here's my situation - I have my kilt, halfbreed ancestry, and all the necessary kit for CAS. My brother has done the beadwork on my Jacobian shirt, done up a bonnie beaded hatbadge for my Balmoral, and built me a very primative looking sporran out of a roadkilled lynxhead. I still need tall moccasins, but that's about it - not 100% historically accurate, but still celebratory of both my Scots and Blackfoot ancestry. Dunno how I'll work the Norske influence in there - eat herring throughout?

Unless you folks know otherwise, I'll also be breaking some new ground.

So, to those among us that shoot and wear the kilt, have you seen anyone else try this?

Dan

[azwildcat96]

You may look as S.A.S.S. They have a page here:

http://sassnet.com/AliasLookup.php

that you can look up existing members by name. It looks like there are several members with "kilt" or "scot" in their name...maybe they also compete in a kilt???

Sounds like something I might try to do...Added it to the bucket list!

[Tobus]

I was under the impression that most Cowboy Action Shooting competitions and societies were very, very strict about being "period correct" with the costume. I'd be pretty surprised if they even allowed a kilt.

[macwilkin]

From a former NPS Interpretation Ranger's POV:

I can't seem to find a photo at the moment, but the book "Scottish Highlanders, Indian Peoples" by James Hunter (Montana State Historical Society Press) contains a photo of the "half-breed" Duncan McDonald, son to a Scots HBC fur trader and First Nations mother, who are shown in this photo:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0XmWqOlFpc...+MacDonald.jpg

Note that the only sign of Angus' ethnicity is a Scots bonnet, which was popular headgear for the many Scots who worked in the HBC and North West Companies of the Fur Trade era.

Duncan was a noted reported and advocate for the Nez Perce during the Nez Perce war of 1877. the photo of him in Hunter's book (published in Scotland as "Glencoe & the Indians") shows no real visible symbol of Highland attire, but rather standard dress for the late 19th century Westerner.

No doubt someone will reference Waldo/Dode and Chinnubie McIntosh in this thread, and their combination of Highland and First Nations attire, but neither one have claimed to have historical documentation for their display of their shared heritage.

In NPS, we always strived for portraying the "average" in history, rather than the exception. For instance, rather than adorning ourselves in harps and shamrock badges to potray an Irish immigrant serving in a Non-Irish regiment, we were taught that small items, such as a Rosary or a period saint's medal was a discreet way to represent ethnic traditions. Of course, the $64,000 question is whether or not SSAS is a group for a bit of fun, and playing on the myth of the Old West, or a living history group committed to attempting to be as accurate as possible in their portrayal. I really don't know enough about it to answer, so I'll leave that to others.

T.

[azwildcat96]

I was under the impression that most Cowboy Action Shooting competitions and societies were very, very strict about being "period correct" with the costume. I'd be pretty surprised if they even allowed a kilt.

From the SASS Handbook (16th Edition, 2010):

CLOTHING AND ACCOUTERMENTS

"Cowboy Action Shooting™ is a combination of historical reenactment and Saturday
morning at the matinee. Participants may choose the style of costume they wish to wear, but
all clothing must be typical of the late 19th century, a B-western movie, or Western television
series.
SASS puts a great deal of emphasis on costuming because it adds so much to the
uniqueness of our game and helps create a festive, informal atmosphere that supports the
friendly, fraternal feeling we encourage in our competitors.
All shooters must be in costume, and we encourage invited guests and family also to be
costumed. Shooters must remain in costume at all match events: dinners, award ceremonies,
dances, etcetera.
ALL clothing and equipment MUST be worn appropriately, how it was intended and how
it would have been worn in the OLD WEST or as seen on B-Western movies and television."

Pop Quiz!!!

Maybe someone can provide the name of a B-westerm movie or television show where a kilted gent was shown.

Anyone?

[macwilkin]

From the SASS Handbook (16th Edition, 2010):

CLOTHING AND ACCOUTERMENTS

"Cowboy Action Shooting™ is a combination of historical reenactment and Saturday
morning at the matinee. Participants may choose the style of costume they wish to wear, but
all clothing must be typical of the late 19th century, a B-western movie, or Western television
series.
SASS puts a great deal of emphasis on costuming because it adds so much to the
uniqueness of our game and helps create a festive, informal atmosphere that supports the
friendly, fraternal feeling we encourage in our competitors.
All shooters must be in costume, and we encourage invited guests and family also to be
costumed. Shooters must remain in costume at all match events: dinners, award ceremonies,
dances, etcetera.
ALL clothing and equipment MUST be worn appropriately, how it was intended and how
it would have been worn in the OLD WEST or as seen on B-Western movies and television."

Pop Quiz!!!

Maybe someone can provide the name of a B-westerm movie or television show where a kilted gent was shown.

Anyone?

So there you go.

Brian Keith played a Scotsman in The Rare Breed, but I don't remember if he wore a kilt in the movie. Alexander McKeag in Centennial certainly didn't.

T.

[azwildcat96]

The Ballad of Davy Crockett was heard on the radio and sung by children everywhere. What kid from the mid 1950s can ever forget its words...

Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three

Davy, Davy Crockett
King of the Wild Frontier!

[macwilkin]

The Ballad of Davy Crockett was heard on the radio and sung by children everywhere. What kid from the mid 1950s can ever forget its words...

Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three

Davy, Davy Crockett
King of the Wild Frontier!

bud-dup-bah. Come back at 11, folks -- the show's completely different!

T.

[auld argonian]

I would think that for all of the whacko far out plots that they kept Bonanza alive with for all of those years SOMEBODY must have shown up in a kilt somewhere...I mean, they had Charles Dickens show up at the Ponderosa, fer goodness sake!

Best

AA

[macwilkin]

I would think that for all of the whacko far out plots that they kept Bonanza alive with for all of those years SOMEBODY must have shown up in a kilt somewhere...I mean, they had Charles Dickens show up at the Ponderosa, fer goodness sake!

Best

AA

Played by "Dr. Smith" of Lost in Space, no less! (don't ask me how I know that!)

T.