Grant ancient tartan in formal attire

**Rampant Lion** · 12th January 07, 10:13 AM

Brad,
I have also come across all of the setts you have mentioned, but the Grant, Hunting Grant, Grant of Ballindalloch, and Grant fo Monymusk are the only "official" Grant tartans. The Piper and Champion tartans are derived from paintings of the Grant Piper and Grant Champion. I think it would definitely be cool to get a kilt in either one of those.
When I was referring to the smaller sett I meant that some weavers use a different thread count, but maintain the same ratio thereby keeping the same tartan, but the sett just being smaller. I have a picture on my computer at home with myself and fellow Grant standing side by side. I'm wearing the my Modern Grant in the big sett and he's wearing the Ancient Grant in a smaller sett. I'll try to remember to post it when I get home.

-Will

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 12th January 07, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I am not a Grant per se, but Lord Strathspey is the "honourary patron" of our St. Andrew's Society, and the Comyns/Cummings have had a long-standing relationship (good and bad) with the Grants over the years.

Which brings up another good tartan for the Grants, the Strathspey district tartan. Here's a picture of John Grant (one of our best kilt customers!) in the Strathearn tartan:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/strathearnkilt.jpg

John has the modern Grant, Black Watch (Grant Hunting) and Strathearn tartan kilts, all pleated to stripe. He has his Grant tartan pleated to the azure line, and it does look sharp!

Matt

**Warhoover** · 12th January 07, 10:54 AM

Matt,

Thank you for the info. Oh the list grows!

Thanks for you insight on the pleating to the azure stripe. I know that knowledge will come in handy. I would like to do a Grant kilt to the stripe one day for piping and to satisfy my military mind.

My parents recently moved to northeast GA. Now I will have a chance to take some time while visiting them and come up to Franklin for a visit to the museum. Seems every time I get through that neck of the woods I just did not have the time for a visit, now that will change.
Thanks again for the post. I have learned so much thanks to this forum.

Brad

**Rampant Lion** · 12th January 07, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

John has the modern Grant, Black Watch (Grant Hunting) and Strathearn tartan kilts, all pleated to stripe. He has his Grant tartan pleated to the azure line, and it does look sharp!

Matt

Matt,
I don't suppose you have a photo kicking around somewhere of the Grant tartan pleated to azure stripe. I've never seen the Grant tartan pleated to stripe and am quite curious. Is it box-pleated or knife-pleated?

-Will

**starbkjrus** · 12th January 07, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

snip...Here's a picture of John Grant (one of our best kilt customers!) in the Strathearn tartan:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/strathearnkilt.jpg

Matt

Matt,

Wow, the Strathearn is gorgeous. How available is the cloth? Your Compendium of District Tartans says it has been adobpted by a pipeband so maybe it's orderable?

Oops, sorry. <Unhijack> I like the Grant Ancient colors.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 12th January 07, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Rampant Lion

Matt,
I don't suppose you have a photo kicking around somewhere of the Grant tartan pleated to azure stripe. I've never seen the Grant tartan pleated to stripe and am quite curious. Is it box-pleated or knife-pleated?

-Will

I don't have any photos at hand, but I'll see what I can find. John's a fairly regular visitor to the museum and he always wears his kilt.
M

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 12th January 07, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by starbkjrus

Matt,

Wow, the Strathearn is gorgeous. How available is the cloth? Your Compendium of District Tartans says it has been adobpted by a pipeband so maybe it's orderable?

Oops, sorry. <Unhijack> I like the Grant Ancient colors.

I can get it in 13 oz weight no problem. House of Edgar has it in their "Old & Rare" range, in both the modern and muted color schemes. The picture I showed is in the modern colors. I, personally, prefer the muted in this tartan.

You can see them both here by browsing this listing (it's on page 41).
http://www.tartanweb.org/range/house...old__rare.html

I think the muted Strathearn is one of those that you really have to see in person to appreciate.

M

**AllenJ** · 15th January 07, 08:47 AM

Ooh! I really like that muted Strathearn! It's not too dissimilar from the Grant Champion tartan, which I've wanted in a kilt for years now. Unfortunatley, it's very rare and is thus a very expensive custom order. I find the Grant piper tartan very attractive as well.

Just for the record...
Here is the Grant Champion portirat:
http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q...irMorGrant.jpg

And here is the Grant Piper portirat:
http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q...r_by_Waitt.jpg

It is indeed Great to be a Grant!

**Warhoover** · 15th January 07, 10:14 PM

Allen,

Always nice to meet a fellow clansman. Thanks for the photos. I had seen smaller versions of them. Thanks for the larger versions. I checked out your photobucket. I like the jacket. What time period is it? Your basket hilt is beautiful. I am sure that put you back a few Guineas. I agree the more I look at the Stathearn the more I like it. Definately on my list in the future.

**AllenJ** · 16th January 07, 06:08 AM

Thanks for your compliments.

The jacket is actually a copy of the one in the Grant Champion portirat. So an approximate date for it would be about 1715, though we see similar ones much later than that.

My baskethilt- thanks, but the real credit goes to the smiths that made it.
EB Erickson made the hilt: http://eljay.myarmoury.com/
Angus Trim made the blade: http://www.angustrimdirect.com/index.html
Christian Fletcher put it all together and made the scabbard and baldric: http://www.christianfletcher.com/Site/Welcome.html

I am quite pleased with the result...and yet it was many, many Guineas ;)