I have a dark blue Ike jacket with fire department buttons. I want to switch them for something else. I've been looking for Scottish or Celtic themed buttons that might work, but I'm having trouble finding anything the right size. The FD buttons, gold colored, are a bit under an inch in diameter -- and the epaulet and pocket buttons smaller -- they are the same size as US Army uniform buttons. They're probably the same size as common metal blazer buttons, I suppose. The "traditional" buttons I've found on-line are usually, in the larger sizes, one-inch in diameter, too big to fit through the button holes on the jacket, and in the smaller size are a bit too large to look right, to me, as epaulet and pocket buttons. I'd like to find a set of large and small buttons in the same pattern in a silver or pewter color to put on the jacket. Anyone have any suggestions?

I really don't like incorporating military items into civilian wear, but I do have a set of silver US Army dress buttons that I could make work. They'd look good on the blue jacket. Silver buttons haven't been authorized for wear on army uniforms in a very long time. Historically, they were only briefly allowed as an alternative to gold or brass colored buttons, and even then weren't supposed to be worn when in formation, so they never were popular. The silver ones can be considered antique and collectible. What do you think, should I use them?