Quote Originally Posted by PiobBear View Post
Wow; that's a great price for a balmoral, and kudo's for not getting a common black one; I like rifle green.

If you're thinking of a feather hackle, you might want to carefully consider that "Hackles are generally awarded to regiments for battle honours or a special reason. Serious consideration and research should be given prior to being worn by a civilian..." (drummajor.net). For instance, the red hackle was awarded to the Black Watch as a battle honor commemorating their bravery on 4 January 1795, where during a rear guard action before Guildermalson, Holland, French cavalry routed the British picket line, capturing two field pieces. The 42nd Regiment immediately charged and retook the guns, dragging the cannon back to British lines by hand under heavy fire.
The Canadian Royal Highland Regiment was awarded their red hackle following the strategic victory at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917 where the Canadian Expeditionary Force had captured more ground, more prisoners and more guns than any previous British offensive in two-and-a-half years of war, one of the most complete and decisive engagements of the First World War and the greatest Allied victory up to that time.
My band wears hackles as part of their uniform, but I choose not to wear one when I'm on my own. I simply don't feel that I've earned the right.
Excellent point, Piobear. Hackles really are part of a uniform, and as you have pointed out, a particular colour of hackle, such as the Black Watch's red vulture feather or the Highlander's blue hackle, has a lot of powerful symbolism behind it.

The same could also be said for wearing any type of feather in general, since feathers behind a badge usually denote an armiger (one who bears a coat-of-arms granted by a heraldic authority) or a Chief of a Clan.

I think it's best to keep hackles to uniform kit, INMHO.

Cheers,

Todd