The unladen swallows showed up!

[sathor]

Wait.. there's more than 1 Jerry, right?

[TheKiltedCoder]

Wait.. there's more than 1 Jerry, right?

Sorry, I'd thought which Jerry would be understandable by context: Jerry V from Stillwater Kilts.

Brian

[sathor]

Sorry, I'd thought which Jerry would be understandable by context: Jerry V from Stillwater Kilts.

Brian

wait, you mean you can custom order from Jerry? Now I'm really confused.

[TheKiltedCoder]

wait, you mean you can custom order from Jerry? Now I'm really confused.

Yes, you can (on a case-by-case basis). It's kind of down in the fine print. Since Jerry doesn't make his own, you don't get the delivered-before-you-ordered-it responsiveness you usually get. In point of fact, this particular kilt was ordered about a week after the Hunting MacRaes went on sale back in October (at least, I seem to remember it was October).

We'd had a minor problem and they'd actually had to go back and make a second one due to a typo (the original was made for a 30" waist, and I've got a 38" waist).

So, it took a bit, but it's back.

I've already taken an iron to it and shaped the left edge of the apron, and things look pretty spiff, if I do say so myself.

Again, pics once the spouse gets home.

Brian

[McClef]

Was this an unladen European or unladen African Swallow?

[Tim Little]

Congrats on the haul; looking forward to the pix!

The sgian is a beaut -- I was ogling it only a moment ago myself. The open knotwork hilt is quite unusual. If "Heatherstone" is anything like Heathergems, it should look particularly spectacular.

And while the Tay is quite reasonably priced, I really can't justify the purchase of a new sgian myself, so I live vicariously through you!

EDIT -- Aye, this looks to be the item:



Well done, indeed!

[TheKiltedCoder]

Okay, folks, here goes.

First, the Sgian Dubh. In the box -



with the box open -



from the top, showing the stone pattern, and the Heathergems card that came with the sgian dubh -



and finally showing the blade -



The blade arrived dull enough that it will cut warm butter only with persistence and elbow grease. I am strongly considering getting it sharpened, but Illinois law is so screwy about knives, I'm not quite sure whether I can wear it legally, or whether or not having it sharpened even makes a difference in whether it can be worn legally. Part of me really hates carrying a tool that can't be used for its intended purpose, but I also really don't want to get arrested either. I'll have to go consult a lawyer (or the local constabulary).

And now for the kilt. From the front (note: the following images are color corrected using a 50% grey card) -



From the back, showing the pleats



Oblique front showing the apron



and finally oblique rear showing the pleats



Let me know what you all think!

[TheKiltedCoder]

Congrats on the haul; looking forward to the pix!

The sgian is a beaut -- I was ogling it only a moment ago myself. The open knotwork hilt is quite unusual. If "Heatherstone" is anything like Heathergems, it should look particularly spectacular.

And while the Tay is quite reasonably priced, I really can't justify the purchase of a new sgian myself, so I live vicariously through you!

EDIT -- Aye, this looks to be the item:



Well done, indeed!

Yep, as you can see above, it was a Heathergems stone. In addition to going reasonably well with the MacRae, the stone matches my Thompson Grey almost like it was made for it.

The only reason I grabbed it was that I'd gotten a rather minor year end bonus at work, and figured I had to get SOMETHING kilt-related out of it, and that cheesy little plastic $20 sgian that I'd been using was just too tacky for words. I expect that the plastic sgian will be relegated to duty during renfaires and such like (so I don't have to worry about something bad happening), and I'll keep the Tay for dressier occasions.

Thanks much!

Brian

[Smayniac]

Yes, you can (on a case-by-case basis). It's kind of down in the fine print. Since Jerry doesn't make his own, you don't get the delivered-before-you-ordered-it responsiveness you usually get. In point of fact, this particular kilt was ordered about a week after the Hunting MacRaes went on sale back in October (at least, I seem to remember it was October).

We'd had a minor problem and they'd actually had to go back and make a second one due to a typo (the original was made for a 30" waist, and I've got a 38" waist).

I saw that short 30" MacRae on the closeout page and considered ordering it for Scooby. I ended up getting him the standard length BW; he wore it for the NorCal Burns supper Saturday. It's too long, but he grows like a weed, I may or may not end up hemming it.

Bolb

[Phogfan86]

It's too long, but he grows like a weed, I may or may not end up hemming it.

My son bought a black shadow premium from SWK and it nearly looked like a hostess skirt when he got it nine months ago. Now it hits him just below the knee and will look good for some time to come.

Kids'll grow on ya.