Kilt belt/sporran markings

[Joe I]

As a newly kilted, I have noticed that all the markings are in family crest or Massonic or Police/Firefighter. As (if I have Scottish) I don't have any idea of clan, and I'm none of the rest, I fo instance made my kilt pin from a U.S. Army Signal corp. pin and I'm looking at a plain buckle at J. Higgins, Ltd. and trying to attach signal corp. pin to it. U.S Army Signal Corp. being my Military experiance. I guess we have to improvise if we want these things to reflect our own needs!!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Well, there is nothing to say that your sporran and belt have to have any symbolic markings at all. None of mine do! Scratch that, I have one old brown leather military sporran that I have pinned a miniature clan crest badge onto, but that's it. And the sporran looks just fine without it.

But please feel free to wear unadorned accessories. In my opinion, nine times out of ten, they look better. Or if you like decoration, generic celtic knot designs or other non-symbolic designs are pretty easy to find, as well.

[ForresterModern]

If you really desire to wear "clan crest" style items like sporrans, belt buckles, even cap badges, they are available in a variety of non-clan affiliated designs such as the rampant lion, thistle, and even the audacious "Illegitimi non carborundum" which is pseudo Latin for "Don't let the bastards grind you down". I even have one pin that is cap badge size and shape, belt tail and all, but simply made with various semiprecious stones around the ring and no motto.

Although I have kilt pin (standard sword style), lapel pin, cuff links, belt buckle, day sporran and simple as well as dressy silver cap badges in Forrester clan crest I rarely wear any but the cap badge, and usually no more than one or two at a time, especially with my Forrester tartan kilts-----it does get to be a bit of a cliche'/overkill to wear them all at once----like a walking commercial for your clan.

[Laird_M]

Joe,
As many have said on here, you don't havce to have a link to Scotland, Wales or Ireland to wear the kilt.

A friend has no connections to Scotland that he knows of, but he likes the Thistle, so his buckle and pin are thistle design.

My wife's only link to Scotland is because she married me. She likes Royal Stewart and Hunter, so that is what she wears. I wear my Clan tartan - MacLeod, but have no problem with her wearing what she wants. She does wear a MacLeod pendant though.

If you like a design, be it thistle, Saltire, piper, whatever, wear it, and wear it with Pride!

[billmcc]

Alexis malcolm kilts sells buckles, kilt pins and cap badges with US military insignias. I bought my US Air Force kilt pin from her and really like it.

Go here: http://www.alexismalcolmkilts.com/1451/1469.html

[Joe I]

Thanks for the responses. To quote my wife on wearing kilts: You don't have to be Italian to eat pizza, or Scottish to wear a kilt.ith:

[Tuirc]

I specifically got my sporran and belt/buckle NOT adorned with clan crest for the reason mentioned above, one or two mentions of your clan in your attire is plenty. More and you risk looking like a clan advert. Along those lines recently at a games in CA our chief was attending as our clan was the "honored clan" for the games. For the entrance parade the rules were that a staff with clan motto and name be used. Our chief objected on the grounds that if the motto says "Creag an Tuirc" you know who we are, we don't need to beat you over the head with it by putting MacLaren on the staff too. I would think that would go for any symbol. Less is more.

[Madadh]

As to clan badges, I wear our own X-Marks clan badge on my bonnet, a kilt pin, and as soon as Pony15 finishes it on a sgian dubh.