Quote Originally Posted by JRB View Post
I was under the impression that they looked the same and only the swish and heft differentiated them. Is there actually a noticable visual difference between a 5yd. and 8yd. kilt?
Noticeable? I dunno if it is to most people, but here's two pictures from Matt Newsome's website.

http://kilts.albanach.org/HPIM1910.JPG (Five yard leatherneck knife pleated to the stripe.)

and

http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html (Scroll down to the Moffat tartans, one box and one knife---the knife is the eight yarder.)

I think I like the five yarder more several reasons: historical accuracy, better balance, and slightly less expensive. (Note that since I am talking about a hand sewn kilt of heavyweight worsted wool, it's not like I'm cutting too many corners, nor saving all that much money.)

Perhaps I just like it out of pure perversity, because it falls outside the usual taxonomic classification scheme for kilts.