Would a single buckle closure fare well?

[Kriegbert]

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/157179


We’ve had discussions on this site how a third buckle is largely superfluous, but how would a single buckle fare as in the second photo in this 19th century example?

[figheadair]

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/157179


We’ve had discussions on this site how a third buckle is largely superfluous, but how would a single buckle fare as in the second photo in this 19th century example?

A couple of points about this particular example.

Firstly, the garment is 29th, not 19th century. Secondly, as the lefthand side is covered by the plaid it is not clear that this only has one buckle.

Single buckles were common on some military kilts at certain points but it is unclear whether the practice was adopted for civilian kilts generally. That said, I have worn single buckle closing for the past 40+ years and find there is no difference but all my kilts are 4-5 yards.

[OC Richard]

It looks like a military kilt, with the typical military two-prong black buckle.

We can't tell from the photos whether or not the kilt has the usual buckle on the wearer's left, I would imagine it does.

And it might or might not have originally had two buckles on the wearer's right.

That's the thing with ex-Army items, often they end up in civilian hands and are modified.

A musical instrument in a museum tells us little about how it originally was tuned, sounded, and played; to know these things we have to hear the instrument being played by a good musician who specialises in that instrument.

In like manner an item of military clothing in a museum tells us little about how it was originally constituted and worn; to know those things we have to see that item being worn by a member of that particular unit in the same time-period the clothing item dates to.

[Steve Ashton]

Most of my kilts have only one right buckle.

[Father Bill]

Most of my kilts have only one right buckle.

Steve, you do have an interior left do you not?

[Steve Ashton]

Correct. Most of my kilts also have the left strap and buckle on the inside.

Most kilts will have a belt (or the bottom of a vest) covering the buckles so they are not seen anyway.

[OC Richard]

Most of my kilts also have the left strap and buckle on the inside.

I've read that that's how the New York-made kilts of the 79th New York State Militia (raised in 1858) were made. I've not seen a photo of the inside of one of those kilts so I'm not sure exactly how it was done.

[Steve Ashton]

The left buckle mounts on the under-apron.



And the left strap mounts inside.



Fastened it looks like this.



A nice neat appearance, and as there is no strap hole to work around, alterations take just a few mins.

All of the kilts I made for The Canadian Scottish Regt. had the left strap inside and a single right strap. This made fitting new troops, with a limited number of stock kilts, so much easier and much more cost effective for the unit. This would hold true for a pipe band too.

[figheadair]

I've read that that's how the New York-made kilts of the 79th New York State Militia (raised in 1858) were made. I've not seen a photo of the inside of one of those kilts so I'm not sure exactly how it was done.

I think you're correct Richard. I have a copy of a 79th NYH kilt made for me by Bob Martin who'd inspected an origina, it has an internal buckle on the left.

[McMurdo]

My 4 yard box pleated kilts from Matt Newsome who learned from Bob Martin, all have the internal left strap. When my twin brother gave me the Graham of Mentieth Ancient kilt was too big for me so for years I never used it and it stayed up fine with only one strap and buckle on the right, a few years ago I put a strap in the correct place on the left.