What length should I make a kilt pin?

**Kirsty** · 30th January 14, 07:16 PM

Hi folks - I'm hoping someone may be able to help me out. I'm a fairly newly qualified silversmith and have been asked to make a kilt pin for  a customer featuring my etched Fair Isle pattern but I may also make some additional one-off pieces too. Is there a minimum/maximum length I should be looking at or is it really down to personal preference? Many thanks :0)

**Hawk** · 30th January 14, 07:25 PM

Welcome to the XMTS Community Kirsty.....

Im sure some of our historians and knowledgeable members will be along shortly to answer your question......

Hawk

**Father Bill** · 30th January 14, 07:30 PM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

**Kirsty** · 30th January 14, 07:32 PM

Thanks Hawk! I haven't a clue where to begin - there are so many variations out there.

**unixken** · 30th January 14, 08:13 PM

Here are a couple previous threads that discussed kilt pin sizes. You may find useful info in these:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...in-size-28514/

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-length-29741/

**ASinclair** · 30th January 14, 08:42 PM

Hello, Kirsty!

**The Wizard of BC** · 30th January 14, 09:01 PM

Kirstey,

There is really no 'standard' or 'normal' or 'usual' when discussing Kilt Pins. Think of them as the kilt equivalent of a lady wearing a brooch. That little piece of jewelry that has some special meaning to the wearer. That little bit of bling that catches the eye.

When a guy starts wearing a kilt one of the things that happens is he ends up being the one searching though the jewelry cases at flea markets. Always with an eye out for that special and unique kilt pin.

I have kilt pins as small as 1.5" and as large as 4.5". I have round ones and long ones and ones sort of in between. What I do not have is the ubiquitous sword shape.

Let your imagination go wild and have fun. If you were to make something about, or perhaps slightly larger, than a ladies brooch you will be fine.

**MacRobert's Reply** · 31st January 14, 01:16 AM

IMHO, less than 2 inches is a bit too wee and over 4 inches a bit too big, unless you are a very big chap. 2 inches works well if the pin or brooch is wide (such as round or oval). If it is narrow, it can be longer. However, there are no rules.

**EagleJCS** · 31st January 14, 01:10 PM

I have two of the sword-style kilt pins.

My Clan Scott pin is 3 1/2" (9 cm) long by about 1 3/8" (3.5 cm) at its widest. The bar pin is 2 3/8" (6 cm) long, and is roughly centered top to bottom (running the length of the sword), with the point down.

My bagpiper pin is 4" (10.2 cm) long by 1 1/8' (2.7 cm). The bar pin is 1 7/8" (4.7 cm) and is closer to the top (centered over the sword's guard), about 1/4" (.7 cm) from the top. The point is also down on this one.

The Clan Scott pin is actually a little 'beefier' looking, whereas the bagpiper pin is more slender and not as thick front to back. Both swords are slightly hollowed out in the back (to reduce weight and amount of metal used), the bagpiper pin moreso than the Clan Scott.

Hope that helps!

**Kirsty** · 10th February 14, 02:50 PM

Many thanks to everyone for the kilt pin advice. I went along to my local kilt shop and they were really helpful too. They gave me a couple of old pins they had lying through the back of the shop so that I could scrutinise the catches. Now I just have to source heavy duty sterling catches and I'll be able to get started on the kilt pin itself.