Royal Regiment of Scotland Kilt Uniform

[OC Richard]

The buckles are black-coated metal, which I wasn’t expecting.

As I recall all of the older Other Ranks kilts I've seen have quite distinctive buckles, stamped out of sheet-metal and having two prongs.



The RRS kilts I've seen have civilian-style buckles, cast metal with a single prong, but done up in black, a nod I suppose to the old style of buckles.

Officers' kilts, being private purchase items, might have any style of buckle.

I do notice it is an inch or two longer than my existing kilts – it seems to have a higher rise above the straps, so I assume is intended to be worn a little higher.

Yes, military Other Ranks kilts generally have a higher rise, as I recall a 4 inch rise as opposed to the 2 inch rise usually seen in civilian kilts.

Here are military kilts in situ

[Regimental]

As I recall all of the older Other Ranks kilts I've seen have quite distinctive buckles, stamped out of sheet-metal and having two prongs.



The RRS kilts I've seen have civilian-style buckles, cast metal with a single prong, but done up in black, a nod I suppose to the old style of buckles.

Interesting – yes, these are no different to civilian style buckles, other than in colour. A nice little nod to history as you say perhaps, but it does also give a cleaner look, with the buckles not standing out at all, which probably works well in focusing the attention on the kilt itself and some of the other more important elements of the uniform, rather than the straps.

Yes, military Other Ranks kilts generally have a higher rise, as I recall a 4 inch rise as opposed to the 2 inch rise usually seen in civilian kilts.

It’s certainly an inch higher – not quite sure it’s two, though it’s a little tricky to judge exactly to be honest!

[figheadair]

Interesting – yes, these are no different to civilian style buckles, other than in colour. A nice little nod to history as you say perhaps, but it does also give a cleaner look, with the buckles not standing out at all, which probably works well in focusing the attention on the kilt itself and some of the other more important elements of the uniform, rather than the straps.

Today, it's unusual to see two-proged buckles on civilian kilts. I really like them and had the military ones used on my recent kilt.

It’s certainly an inch higher – not quite sure it’s two, though it’s a little tricky to judge exactly to be honest!

It was certainly 2 inches in WWII era military kilts which were intended to be worn with the Battledress Blouse.

[OC Richard]

Today, it's unusual to see two-pronged buckles on civilian kilts. I really like them and had the military ones used on my recent kilt.

Horses for courses...I hate those buckles.

You have to get the things lined up just right or only one of the prongs will hit its mark.

To me the ordinary civilian buckles are the easiest to buckle, especially getting dressed quickly and/or in poor light, as we pipers sometimes end up doing.

[Regimental]

Beyond aesthetics (always a matter of opinion, of course!) it certainly seems dubious what benefit a two-pronged buckle would offer in a military context beyond making them a bit tougher to attach properly. I’m not surprised they’ve switched to a more standard style.

[Allan Thomson]

Having worn single (on the newer kilts) and two prong(on the older kilts) I have to say I prefer the two prong model. I can't ever say I had any issues with the two prongs not lining up. I was a lot thinner back in those days though..