Proper kilt pin placement

[Geoduck]

I have been wondering for a while now on the purpose of the kilt pin. I have been led to believe that it is proper to only put it on the top part of the apron, not through two layers.

Why is this? I would think that the kilt pin would be there to keep the apron down. If this is not the case, why?

What is the historic reason for the kilt pin? Is it just decoration? Curiosity, more then anything.


Thanks,

George

[Doc Hudson]

The purpose is to keep the apron down, but it does so by weight.

Pinning inner and outer aprons together can lead to ripping one or the other or both. It will also interfere with the movement of the aprons and could leave to over exposure.

[zeytoun]

The use of the kilt pin is recent and mostly decorative. The story goes that Queen Victoria was inspecting the troops and saw that one of them was having trouble with his kilt blowing in the wind, so she took one of her own pins and pinned it for him.

They are not very practical, but many (including me) think they look pretty sharp on a kilt. If you get a nice heavy one(pewter perhaps) it actually will keep it down a bit. Another reason for not pinning the aprons together is that it will force you to remove and reinsert the pin each time you wear the kilt, which will increase damage to the kilt. Eventually buy one for each kilt if you like them, and take them off only when you get them cleaned. Also, the clasp often comes open, so you'll have to innovate to keep from loosing your pin. Several members here have their own methods.

[Geoduck]

Great, Thanks for your help. Now one more quick question: What can one use for a kilt pin? I have one sword throuugh my clan badge and another pin that is just the badge. Is this considered kosher?

[bubba]

You can use just about anything as long as it isn't TOO big and has a little weight to it. One I use is a filligre maltese cross with an opal in the center.

[Jewddha]

Sorry to drag this off-topic, but you mentioned the Maltese cross, and Steve had them available for buttons, and they seem to have a huge thing going on with the gearhead/biker world, but what is the real significance? All I really got that it was some saint of Maltas' symbol, can anyone enlighten me?

[Geoduck]

Topics are meant to be dynamic. Enjoy the tangent...

What is too big? I'm looking at about 2 inches round. Everyone's probably seen what I'm talking about in tourist shops throughout Scotland.

Thanks again,

George

[bubba]

This will explain the old symbolism of the Maltese Cross, http://www.smom-za.org/smom/Maltese%.../symbolism.htm

Since WW II it's become more of a symbol of the rebellious, the free spirits.

[Jewddha]

Thanks Bubba, I'm still curious as to how it converted from a (from what i can tell) fairly religious symbol to what it is regarded as today.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Rather than have a rather LARGE copy-and-paste... here's a link to my good friends at Choppers.com, and their explaination about the whole thing.

Cross History and Definitions 8)