WW2 kilts

[LongShanks]

I have been talking to some of the old battle masters whom still have there kilt from when they came home. CapeBreton Highlanders, Nova Scotia Highlanders, Black Watch. The question is would the Government issue kilts of the 1940's be any different from today's production and I am only talking about real kilts.

[OC Richard]

Wizard of BC would be the best to answer that!

I might take your question in two ways:
1) are military issue kilts from WWII different from military issue kilts today
2) are military issue kilts different from civilian kilts today

As for the first question, in Scotland they are, because army kilts from Victorian times up until recently had certain distinguishing features such as extra-heavyweight cloth, black two-prong buckles, light green binding, lack of fringe, and a high rise. This has recently changed with the kilts of the new Royal Regiment of Scotland, which have civilian style buckles (though black) and black binding.

As for the second question, I've seen (and worn) vintage Canadian military kilts from the 1940s so I'm quite familiar with them, and they follow the traditional style of Scottish military kilts, in fact they're often made by the same firm, Thomas Gordon & Son, Glasgow. I don't know if the current Canadian military kilts follow traditional patterns, or if they've changed in some way.

Here is an excellent photo of a Canadian military kilt (Royal Highland Regiment of Canada) showing all the traditional features; a kilt from WWI, WWII, or more recently would look the same.

[The Wizard of BC]

It would also be helpful to know what you mean by "and I am only talking about real kilts."

Can you please give us some specifics of what sort of information you are asking for.