Oliver Ancient

**English Bloke** · 20th January 11, 03:27 PM

Sorry... This is another new Kilt story. Hope you don't mind. It's pure co-incidence that I stumbled across my recent Ebay kilt while actually waiting for this one. I'm not an extravagant man but it seems my Kilt bargins, like buses, come in clumps. I'm also a bloke who likes to take 10 pages to write what would take most folks only one. Please bear with me.

On New Years Eve we had some friends around the house. Some of our chums and some of my Boy's friends too. One of them was Chris who you may recall was the one sporting the Black Watch Kilt in the pub when I was showing off my MacDonald for the first time.

Chris in Black Watch.

Chris is really into Kilts. He wants to get a wool one (his is PV) and while standing in my Kitchen (you always find me in the kitchen at parties) he was grilling me (no pun intended) about how to go about getting one. I suggested that one of the cheapest sources for a very good quality kilt is a company called Tartanweb. I explained how to find it on the interweb but he was really keen for more info. He asked if I could show him so I fired up the laptop, it's only a two minute job eh? And off we went to Tartanweb's site... The night progressed and the drink flowed and we soon lost interest in surfing for kilts. This was a party after all.

The following day I went back to have another shufftie and discovered they were having a sale. They were advertising a number of “one kilt length only” tartans which were available in their standard machine sewn, 8 yard range. There were one or two that quite took my fancy but one in paticular... an Oliver (Hunting) Ancient really caught my eye. You know when you see something and you think, I want that!!

This is the image of the Oliver (Hunting) Ancient that was on the website. Most people I showed it to were howling that it was wayyyy too yellow. I figured it would likely be a little less glaring in reality and I loved the mix of pastel shades (shallow man that I am. To the best of my knowledge there are no Olivers in my tree...).

After browsing their sale selection I stopped off at a few Kilt fora (including this one) and found the thread posted by 'denmcdough' which related to the disappointing Kilt he had purchased and received from the company which seemed to have got through their usual high quality standards and to be fair, the pictures illustrated a very badly made Kilt. I was surprised, to say the least as I have three kilts from these folks, one a special weave, and all of mine are fabulous. In addition, I've never heard a bad review before.

I followed the thread as it developed but kept dropping back to the Kilts in the sale section and drooling. I progressively got more and more hooked on the Oliver Kilt. I knew it wouldn't be as bright as the picture seemed to suggest but I couldn't find an image to compare it to anywhere on the web. Come 07 January I decided to take a chance and emailed Tartanweb to see if it was still available.

It was. So I ordered it there and then. Not even a second thought. Despite the negative thread I'd seen, I was trusting that my previous experience was the norm and the faulty Kilt I'd read about was a blip. I was given a four to six week turnaround for the Kilt which I accepted as normal. I wasn't in any rush anyway.

As it turned out the problem denmcdough encountered was eventually resolved to everyone's satisfaction and there were assurances given by Scott Chalmers the CEO of the company that it would never be allowed to happen again. I was even happier when I read that. Blip it seemed to be.

Anywhoo... I settled down to wait for mine. Four to six weeks you say? Blimey!

To my surprise, the Kilt turned up today. Order to delivery time? 13 days.

And here it is. (hehehe...)

Sorry.

And here it is...

**English Bloke** · 20th January 11, 03:27 PM

OK OK...

Front...

Back...

Close up to the tartan. Not sure about your monitors but this looks spot-on for colour on mine. Seems I was right.

It's a machine sewn 8yd, 13oz from DC Dalgliesh and was just shy of £160 delivered. It's pleated to sett and has 32 x 2cm (¾ inch) pleats. The pleat depth is 7cm (2.5 inches). It is triple fringed and is a three buckle jobbie with really sturdy black leather straps.

The buckles are perfectly aligned with the tartan.

As are the two belt loops.

It has a black cotton lining.

Flashes were chucked in...

**English Bloke** · 20th January 11, 03:28 PM

What it looks like on...

As I say. The Ebay MacKenzie was an irresistible fluke, this was the Kilt I was really waiting for. I think it's stunning. I love it. Anyone who has trepidations about ordering from Tartanweb, don't. It would seem their issues are properly resolved.

Apologies for the smug expression.

**artificer** · 20th January 11, 03:46 PM

Another beauty bargain, John! Congrats again.

ith:

**davidlpope** · 20th January 11, 03:53 PM

Very nice. I love Dalgliesh's tartan fabric and the construction looks great. The simple brown sporran you're wearing is also very sharp. Do you mind providing details?

Cordially,

David

**cessna152towser** · 20th January 11, 03:53 PM

Another excellent kilt John which suits you to a T.

**Downunder Kilt** · 20th January 11, 04:08 PM

Being a blue/green kilt man, that is a great tartan and as I own several D C Dagliesh woven tartan kilts, I have to agree that their material is superb.
Another well done English Bloke, you certainly have an eye for the bargains.

**English Bloke** · 20th January 11, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by davidlpope

... The simple brown sporran you're wearing is also very sharp. Do you mind providing details?...

Thanks David.

It's an unissued British MoD second. Can't find the fault on it myself. I Picked it up on Ebay last year from these chaps (click) for considerably less than it's actually worth. They have them in from time to time and it was exactly what I was after. Another chance find but worth checking back from time to time if you are interested.

**BoldHighlander** · 20th January 11, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

Sorry... This is another new Kilt story. Hope you don't mind. It's pure co-incidence that I stumbled across my recent Ebay kilt while actually waiting for this one. I'm not an extravagant man but it seems my Kilt bargins, like buses, come in clumps.

Jeez! Some guys have all the luck! Can I get you to buy some lottery tickets for me?

Seriously though, John, that is a very lovely shade of tartan. I really like it.
Kudos on another great find!