The scottish gentleman.

[EagleJCS]

Where does he put it when he's piping?

It converts into a bass drone.

[Jock Scot]

I am not sure who to credit this comment to, perhaps Sir Harry Lauder?

"A Highland gentleman is one who can play the pipes, but doesn't."

[Jock Scot]

Reading elsewhere indicates the cromach was originally a shepherd's staff, the crook for hooking a leg of an errant sheep.
The market stick, like one's Sunday best, was for occasions when one wanted to put one's best foot forward. Market day
was one such occasion. One might have to attend to the mundane task of driving the sheep to town to sell or trade, but
one could give an impression of care and attention to appearance, and one could while away the long hours in the hills by
carving a fancier stick for town. The more widespread usage as a walking aid grew out of the observation of its utility. Like
everything else, maybe so, maybe not, but methinks Occam might agree.

In my personal experience the market stick is far from a fancy handled cromach. Its shorter, although it might have started life longer , for use in more confined spaces found in market and is entirely functional for "steering' the beasts which can take a bit of "persuading" to comply to directions! These days, I note that three feet of One inch polythene water pipe is the tool of choice. No one--------Duke, or crofter------ in their right mind takes their best cromach, or kilt, to market.

[OC Richard]

entirely functional for steering the beasts which can take a bit of persuading to comply to directions!

I had to laugh because it brought up the image of an old friend who, while acting as Steward for the Pipe Band Competition at one of our local Games, used his Cromach for steering the pipe bands, which also took a bit of persuading.

[Macman]

Where does he put it when he's piping?

I leave it at home, Richard. I tend to use my pipes more often than the cromach, but I do like to have the cromach at hand for a long day at the games if I'm not piping.