Kilt pin traditions & standards?

[Steve Ashton]

I've actually had many military kilt come into my shop with rips in the inner and outer apron where the two were pinned together.
You would think that the pin would give first. But the evidence is pretty clear when you see it.

I tried the magnet thing on a pin I made. I had it yanked right off the kilt when the pin decided it liked the bumper of a car more than my kilt when I walked through a parking lot. No more magnets for me.

I also don't wear pins while in the shop. It seems that the knee lift on my industrial machines hit my right kilt right where the pin is and does unspeakable things to them and their clasps.

[The Q]

I've actually had many military kilt come into my shop with rips in the inner and outer apron where the two were pinned together.
You would think that the pin would give first. But the evidence is pretty clear when you see it

I therefore must assume the friction of the kilt, round the leg, exceeds the pulls needed to rip the kilt.

[OC Richard]

About the tradition or history of it, wearing kilt pins seems to be a modern thing, more or less.

In The Highlanders Of Scotland (portraits of 56 kilted men painted in the 1860s) of the 34 men which have the portion of the kilt in question visible, the following can be seen:

28 no kilt pin (one kilt has rosettes)
6 kilt pin

None of the kilt pins are the style which became popular in the early 20th century, a blanket pin or a sword shape.

The six kilt pins are as follows:

2 open circles
1 open oval
1 in the style of a clan crest cap badge
1 clan crest by itself, not surrounded by strap & buckle
1 complex design

So, at least in the 1860s the wearing of kilt pins was uncommon, and if so they were usually circular.

About the military, The 92nd Foot/Gordon Highlanders were the unique in wearing them, of the five post-1809 kilted regiments. They wore plain blanket pins.

I should also point out that flashes, which are now standard, are in the minority in The Highlanders Of Scotland; 40 of the 56 men wear none.

So when people talk about "elaborate Victorian Highland Dress" they might want to look at some of the men in HOS who have no kilt pins, flashes, cap badges, weaponry, or indeed any metal whatsoever in their costume (the sporran having a plain leather cantle).

I very rarely wear a kilt pin. Anyone who has seen piles of old band kilts (some worn for 20 years or more) will see the contrast between the bands that don't wear kilt pins (their kilts are in pretty good shape) and the bands that do wear kilt pins (nearly every kilt has at least some damage, and the worst kilts have big ragged holes you can put a finger through). I suspect drummers are the worst culprits (they will always get the blame anyhow).

[RectaPete]

Almost any good pin can be a kilt pin. Could be a standard nappy pin, a brooch or even an enamel badge. Creativity is a plus though- claymore pins do grate on you after being in the kilt community for so long!

[OC Richard]

Almost any good pin can be a kilt pin.

Yes it was very interesting to see, in a lengthy thread here called "show us your kilt pins" that the vast majority of the things being worn as kilt pins by XMarkers weren't designed or made as such.

[Taffy Jack]

Almost any good pin can be a kilt pin. Could be a standard nappy pin, a brooch or even an enamel badge. Creativity is a plus though- claymore pins do grate on you after being in the kilt community for so long!

Cool! In that case, I think I'll try to scratch up an Imjin Scout pin to wear with an army tartan kilt. It's a tiny bit of arcana that speaks to me.

I appreciate all the background from folks. I know it must feel like "reinventing the wheel," but as this'll be my first time on wheels, I'm trying not to land (too hard or publicly) on my nose.

Thanks!

Cheers,

Jack