Todd,

that shade of "saffron" was created by the MOD. From all the references out there regarding the colour referred to as saffron in old documents, whether it be in Scotland or Ireland, it was actually a deep yellow or even mustard colour. Certainly not the orange that has been used for the past 100 or so years.

The following shows the Pipes and Drums of the Police Emerald Society of Westchester County, New York . I would bet that the colour of kilt they use is much more traditional in the historical sense.

Still, its damned bright! These are probably the guys Onion is referring to.