Camouflage Kilts...

[Richland]

I understand camoflage it is quite fashonable now. I never wear it unless hunting, it is a bit too redneck for me. Not making a judgement here, just my Boston upbringing... LOL I laugh when ever i visit the bass pro shops etc and see all the men walking around in their cammo, to go shopping! .....huh?
Camouflage has its origins in the military, and kilts have a deep military past. ..so it is only logical that they come together. Not my thing though,
but "March on with your bad self......"

[Rigged]

Is a "Hunting" tartan a type of camo? Just a thought.

Anyway, I agree that camo has its origins in the military. It represents the warrior. But then kilts themselves came out of a warrior past. I don't see a conflict there.

Anyway I own a camo Utilikilt. I've never been a professional warrior though (except for working as a security guard for a few years).

As a civilian, I did once stop a guy (with a build like Mike Tyson) from raping a 14-year-old girl. I knocked him out cold. I guess that makes me a warrior of sorts.

So, today, in honor of my own warrior spirit and in honor of all you professional warriors out there, I'll be wearing my camo kilt with head held high.

[Kilted KT]

Is a "Hunting" tartan a type of camo? Just a thought.

Techincally yes, hunting tartans would be considered camo, as they are an attempt to enable the wearer to blend in with their surroudings.

By modern standards, I would say they are barely camo, as most modern camo's are based on some kind of pseudo-random placement of color, where the tartan by definition has a very distinct pattern.

[macwilkin]

Is a "Hunting" tartan a type of camo? Just a thought.

A quote from Matt Newsome answers this question:

he long and short of it is that hunting tartans have more green (or brown, or some other natural tone) and dress tartans have more white. That's it. The names do not reflect actual usage or restriction in wear.

I would be remiss, however, if I did not mention the London Scottish Regiment, which, along with the Toronto Scottish Regiment, wears kilts of Hodden Grey colour. Lord Elcho (later Earl Weymess), who raised the regiment in 1859, chose the Hodden Grey to avoid "inter-clan rivalries" and because Hodden Grey was a colour worn by the ghillie, or stalker in Scotland. I believe there is a photo on the back cover of Bob Martin's "All about your kilt" that shows the Balmoral ghillies dressed in similar fashion.

Cheers,

Todd

[Casey]

I must admit that I do not like camo for day to day wear. Now having said that, I must also admit that I am finding that I am really a traditionalist and feel more comfortable in a tartan. In fact, I have a beautiful solid black kilt made by Robert and I very seldom wear it because it just doesn't feel right.

Someone said it earlier in this thread, but be thankful for the diversity of this forum.

[bubba]

In truth, I believe "camo" predates any organized and regimented military. I suspect it started with hunters rather than warriors. Historically speaking, soldiers tended to more gaudy display and fought in larger tight formations while hunters often ambushed their prey. Even the celtic warriors of old painted themselves to be seen in battle.

[macwilkin]

In truth, I believe "camo" predates any organized and regimented military. I suspect it started with hunters rather than warriors. Historically speaking, soldiers tended to more gaudy display and fought in larger tight formations while hunters often ambushed their prey. Even the celtic warriors of old painted themselves to be seen in battle.

Thank you, Bubba. The whole idea of a military uniform blending in to the terrain of the battlefield is a relatively new one, save for some exceptions, such as rifle and light infantry units in the British and American armies wearing green uniforms. As late as the American Civil War, uniforms were supposed to present a "large" image to their opponents as a form of psychological warfare (look at the bright colours and tall shakos of the Napoleonic era) -- but it wasn't really until the end of the 19th century that we see armies changing to khaki and other "earth tones".

Cheers,

Todd

[revdpatience]

Bubba:

There's actually an interesting Scottish/golfing connection to camouflage material.

Dr. Alister Mackenzie, who served as a civil surgeon in the Boer War, established the British School of Camouflage during World War I, and later helped design Augusta National Golf Club with Bobby Jones, wrote the following in the introduction to his book The Spirit of St. Andrews:

"I was a keen golfer, and while studying camouflaged defenses it struck me that inland golf courses could be vastly improved, not only from the point of view of beauty, but in creating interesting strategic problems by the imitation of the natural features characteristic of the only golf courses which were at the time worthwhile, namely, the sand dunes by the sea. I then became one of the pioneers of modern golf course architecture and wrote the first book on the subject."

So, golfing or being Scots means being linked to the creation of camouflage. Reason enough for me, on two counts!

Rodger

In truth, I believe "camo" predates any organized and regimented military. I suspect it started with hunters rather than warriors. Historically speaking, soldiers tended to more gaudy display and fought in larger tight formations while hunters often ambushed their prey. Even the celtic warriors of old painted themselves to be seen in battle.

[bubba]

So, golfing or being Scots means being linked to the creation of camouflage. Reason enough for me, on two counts!

Rodger

That sounds about right for "official" camo, but I'm sure the principles were in use long before that with hunters tying brush and weeds to their bodies and smearing mud on their faces to help ambush game. Part of the art of stalking which hunters were doing long before civilization grew larger than the tribal level.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I must admit that I do not like camo for day to day wear. Now having said that, I must also admit that I am finding that I am really a traditionalist and feel more comfortable in a tartan. In fact, I have a beautiful solid black kilt made by Robert and I very seldom wear it because it just doesn't feel right.

Someone said it earlier in this thread, but be thankful for the diversity of this forum.

Hey Casey, I am not so traditional, so if you want to get rid of that solid black kilt from Robert (and its my size), send me a PM.