Aye, Benning,

One wonders just how finely spun that Highland wool was. I am inclined to think it was heavy indeed.

I am not looking to start an argument, but the price of gold has not been as consistent as we might think. Granted, today's price matches nicely and it did when they first made Colt SAAs, but there have been wide ranging variations of the price of gold, even times when gold was positively cheap compared to, say Tartan or various forms of hardware. But I expect you could find some other item that has been more constant, say beer, or fuel.

I appreciate your warning about The Whole Nine Yards, which might or might not refer to anything at all. I am sure you are right about the expression having no connection to the great kilt. Charles Thompson says 4 1/2-6 yards. When I fooled around with a 9 or 10 oz version ( admittedly, to wear, not to keep warm) I found 3 or 4 yards was plenty, once you learned to work the ends...