Bob Martin's the man to turn to. He's examined them and knows the background. He's an occasional visitor here so may comment but I'll email him too. More anon.

Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
This "barrel pleat" subject has been visited before, and I'm waiting to see a photo of a member of The Black Watch wearing such. I have seen, handled, and worn a number of Black Watch kilts from various periods all having knife pleats, and I have a pile of photos showing serving members of The Black Watch appearing to show ordinary knife pleats (though it's often difficult to see the precise pleating due to the dark tartan). As far as I know (and I gladly welcome photos proving me wrong) The Black Watch wore knifepleated kilts from at least 1881 to the creation of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The rear of a typical Black Watch kilt



the rear of a typical Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders kilt (typical save for the black binding)



The only kilts I've seen where the pleats could be described as "barrels" are boxpleated kilts (Argylls, Camerons, or Seaforths) which haven't been pressed in a very long time, where the pleats have lost their crisp edges. I've not seen a kilt looking like that being worn by a serving member of a Scottish regiment, though. Their kilts usually seem to have been pressed.

All of this is offtopic anyhow, the topic being Cameron Highlanders kilts.