Ebay! 'Twill be the death of me...

[English Bloke]

I Just bought a kilt on ebay for £54 (€64 - US$86) delivered.

It was described as "very heavy" so I judged from this and the photo that accompanied it that was a 16oz 8yd knife. Ebay is always a bit of a gamble but it was the right size and length and came in MacKenzie Ancient. I stumbled upon it early o'clock the other morning. (I'm always up early when I'm away from home at work... 'tis the only time I get any peace) I remember thinking... Don't go to Ebay... You'll only regret it... Don't... Please don't go to Ebay... then as I typed it into Google to find the link, I heard my other, inner self saying "Go onnnn... You know you wan't to!"

Came across the kilt almost straight away. I have a saved search although I've stopped it sending me emails now which is progress I suppose. It had an opener of £50. Thought about it long and hard all morning. I don't NEED another I told myself logically. I have no space in my wardrobe. I have plenty kilts. More kilts than one man can wear in a fortnight.

I'd crumbled by lunchtime of course and put £51 on it. I thought there'd be other bidders and I'd probably loose it. Convinced myself that was my true intent hence the "just a quid" over the asking price stance. A quality kilt for that much is bound to attract some attention. I've seen Kilts go for over £300 on Ebay. Not to worry. Maybe next time. It doesn't matter...

I even forced meeself not to go back and look till after the auction (yeah OK).

Unfortunately I didn't manage that either. I managed to stay off most of the afternoon but watched it tick down for the last 10 minutes (in between other "I must be at my desk and PC right now" type essential jobs. You know how it is).

Flamin' torture. There were no other bidders. Phew!! Err... I mean. Oh dear... Oh dear oh dear. (or at least that's what I think I'm supposed to be saying)

Another give-away that I just couldn't resist.

It's not about the wearing anymore. It's become "the having". Is that when it becomes a collection? Or is it still just an obsessive addiction? It's like my guilty secret. My 16oz worsted habit. Well at least with that and the MacDonald I got recently I've got two cheap in price but outstanding quality wool kilts, in great and historic tartans that I can wear down the pub... Not that I can afford to go to the pub with all these kilts I keep buying. I need to get a grip. Or maybe some therapy.

I'm dead chuffed really and I'd convinced myself it would be a good buy because after I'd paid for it, I noticed what looked like a basting stitch peeking out on the front-on photo and one doesn't usually get basting stitches in a rubbish kilt... Knowing my luck though it would be full of fag burns or red wine stains and made of tissue paper... Probably!

Well I got home tonight to find the new Kilt had beaten me to the door by about 12 hours. It had been posted on Monday morning from The North East of England and arrived with the lunch-time postman today (Tuesday). Very fast delivery indeed. It was rolled then packed in a clear poly bag then overpacked in a black poly bag and taped to prevent it un-rolling. Very sturdy packaging and definately watertight. Didn't get any pictures though, I was in too much of a hurry to get it open.

It is a Beauty!

I've compared it to my Bruce Modern which is Strome (16oz fabric woven at Lochcarron Mill in Selkirk for those who don't know.) and it looks remarkably similar although I'm not an expert. I've also seen a Strome weight Campbell in Ancient colours close up and I'd say the blues and greens on this MacKenzie Ancient Kilt are the same. Based on this, I would hazard a guess that this is Lochcarron Strome weight although there are no labels to confirm this.


This is how it looked when it came out of the bag. Not a wrinkle.


As you can see, it's not pleated to true sett but near enough so as no one would notice from a passing bus. There are 30 pleats up to the reverse pleat. As I thought, they were held in place with basting stitches. It looks new as there is next to no wear on the buckle leather but if it isn't new, it's not been used a lot and has been dry-cleaned, basted and pressed before shipping as it smells brand new. I suspect it's a rejected second (maybe the buyer didn't like the "nearly to sett" pleating) or it's maybe ex hire and hardly worn. I dunno. Don't care really, I like it. The pleats are razor sharp and bang on alignment so whoever did the preparation new what they were doing.


The inside has a good quality, black cotton lining. I suppose that's standard in a good Kilt.


The buckles have not been altered since it was made and line up to the tartan fairly well.


The two belt loops are spot on for a match but the real bonus is... It's hand sewn. And beautifully so. You have to get right up close to see any stitching at all.

£50 + £4 postage. I still can't believe it. You couldn't even buy the fabric for that and it fits me as though it were made for me.


The front... It has a triple fringe.


The pleats... There's no stitches in place, they just hang like that. It moves like Strome too.

Chuffed!! I take it all back... I don't regret going on Ebay at all.

It's a cracker, hope you like it too.

[Downunder Kilt]

What a cracker score EB, congratulations. I know what you were talking about re the need for having, mine is with sporrans

[Taygrd]

Great find and a very well played gamble

[CMcG]

I Just bought a kilt on ebay for £54 (€64 - US$86) delivered. <snip>

It's not about the wearing anymore. It's become "the having". Is that when it becomes a collection? Or is it still just an obsessive addiction?

<snip>

I've come to think of kilting as something of a hobby. I don't wear my kilt everyday but I certainly think about kilts (and related accoutrements) everyday.

That's a great deal and what looks like a very good kilt. eBay and deals like that certainly make it easier to add to one's kollection. Congrats!

[Whidbey78]

Great find. It fits well, and at that price the word "bargain" just isn't powerful enough!

[BoldHighlander]

Congratulations on such a great find, John!!!

...now, what are you bidding on next?

[MacGuffin]

You sir have one sharp eye! I found my favorite kilt the same way. Congrats on the great find!

[rtc872]

I am green. Well done!

[cessna152towser]

Wow, that's an excellent find John. Not only a quality kilt at a terrific bargain price but in your exact size. That kilt was meant for you. You done well.

[OC Richard]

What a great kilt, and what a great story! So much of what you say rings true to me, the early morning quiet time at the computer, the Ebay kilt obsession, and so on.

I've never been fortunate enough to find a kilt that fits me in a tartan I like for a good price on Ebay, though I've searched "kilt" daily for several years.

I do have several kilt jackets and sporrans I've got for bargain prices there however.