need new uniforms

**lynnie** · 8th April 10, 02:40 AM

Our pipeband in Oregon needs more McKenzie kilts, horsehair sporrans, red doublets, feather bonnets at reasonable cost, new or used. Ideas?

**OC Richard** · 8th April 10, 04:56 AM

In general you get what you pay for, sorry to say.

About doublets, there's a company in India named replicaters (note the misspelt name) that you can see at replicaters.com.

They're a strange company. They make replica Civil War uniforms and World War Two uniforms etc etc. If given something to copy, they do an excellent job. If left on their own they can make some very strange stuff.

I had them make me a military doublet and it came out very nice. I would say the detailing and craftsmanship was around 90% there. They charge $170 for a military doublet.

I've seen extremely nice replicater doublets worn by a couple Drum Majors around here.

To get your "eye" set on what real Scottish-made doublets look like, here's three views of an excellent doublet by Thomas Gordon, Glasgow:

And two views of a doublet by MacPherson, Edinburgh:

And here's a genuine military red doublet, showing lovely shaping to the tashes:

Beware of mutant doublets! Here are some awful India/Pakistan mutants:

Here's a doublet made by a place that didn't understand how Gauntlet Cuffs are contructed, or how the Inverness Tashes are made:

This place didn't understand that the bars on shells are parallel. Instead, these are splayed out:

About kilts, there's no getting around the fact that there's no substitute for real UK-made kilting tartan and a handcrafted kilt. Replicater kilts I've seen are awful.

Some places in India/Pakistan are making some decent horsehair sporrans, but most have something odd-looking about them.

**RockyR** · 8th April 10, 05:00 AM

Try emailing the site sponsors for quotes on separate parts of the uniform. Most (if not all) give band dicounts on quality items.

**OC Richard** · 8th April 10, 05:14 AM

About sporrans, the easiest style to match in is this standard type. There's always loads of them on Ebay and elsewhere.

Here's a real Scottish-made one:

Many of the India/Pakistan copies are horrid:

Here are some India/Pakistan sporrans with odd tassels.

Short tassels are shorter than this, these are in the middle length-wise:

Oh my goodness... this one is just plain strange:

Now this one looks fairly good on the front side, but the back reveals the mutation:

**MacLowlife** · 8th April 10, 05:15 AM

Our own NorCal Piper, aka Josh at Skye Highland Outfitters, has a man who made me a lovely red PC. His webpage shows cotton doublets starting just a little over $200. As mentioned above, he may be able to offer a discount for a large order.

**Chukta** · 29th April 10, 08:18 AM

[QUOTE=OC Richard;872984]In general you get what you pay for, sorry to say.

About doublets, there's a company in India named replicaters (note the misspelt name) that you can see at replicaters.com.

They're a strange company. They make replica Civil War uniforms and World War Two uniforms etc etc. If given something to copy, they do an excellent job. If left on their own they can make some very strange stuff.

I had them make me a military doublet and it came out very nice. I would say the detailing and craftsmanship was around 90% there. They charge $170 for a military doublet.

I've seen extremely nice replicater doublets worn by a couple Drum Majors around here. [UNQUOTE]

I don't wear Replicater doublets. Mine were made by Higgins.
I have a #2 service dress tunic made by Replicaters that is very nice, but it was made about 8 years ago, and I had to send him another one that fit to be duplicated. I had a recent bad experience with Replicaters. I ordered a drum major's doublet with gold braid, shoulder wings and sent him regimental buttons to use.
I received a plain doublet, no gold braid or shoulder wings and my buttons were not used. It also didn't fit very well. I sent it back, and asked for a refund and a return of my buttons. Since then, I have heard absolutely nothing from him. No refund. No buttons. No communication.
In the past his service has been great, but it seems to be a crap shoot. You really have no idea what you're going to get. I'm willing to try Glengary Hats.

D/M Ron Lewis