SWK leatherneck

**Chase** · 25th October 07, 08:35 AM

Is there anyone in here from SWK or perhaps sombody that may have purchased a Leatherneck tartan from them...I'm confused about all these different options and frankly quite surprised at the cost...I'm ordering a Maple Leaf from CCK and it's gonna cost me a minimum of $230.00 for a 5 yd kilt, my PSD Kilt for Operation Iraqi Freedom from Matt Newsome is going to run approximately $480.00and SWK is selling (the most expensive heavyweight - wool) for $150.00.

I don't understand the differences in price/materials/etc and I don't understand what a box pleate is, or pleated to the stripe vs pleated to the sett.

I plan on ordering the most expensive one, but would like to know more information...I have dispatched an e-mail to their web-site, but I'm a bit impatient and would like to know ASAP

Can anyone give me some advice please?

Respectfully,

Chase

**Panache** · 25th October 07, 08:48 AM

Chase,

If you have some specific questions you really should just email Jerry. He's pretty quick to respond and is upfront about his products.

For his Leatherneck Tartan Kilts he has three options.

A Economy Kilt (pleated to stripe) made of acrylic material*

A Standard Kilt (pleated to sett) this is made of acrylic material

A Heavyweight kilt (pleated to sett) this is made of wool

A Heavyweight Military Box pleat kilt (pleated to stripe) this is made of wool.

There is a difference between a regular wide box pleat such as made by Matt Newsome and a narrow Military box pleat. To imagine a military box pleat, picture a kilt with knife pleats where each knife pleat was then folded over onto of itself. They look really sharp in person and I am looking forward to getting my X Marks the Scot tartan kilt in this style.

As for why does Jerry sell his kilts at a lower cost that other makers

He has them made overseas.
He has them made in only a few tartans
They are made to one length only (24" if you need shorter you will have to have them hemmed).
In their construction they do not have the cutouts in the pleats at the waist. (this adds a little bulk there).

Because they are mass produced and not custom made he is able to offer a pretty good quality product at a reasonable price.

Will they fit and be as nice as a custom kilt made by an experienced kiltmaker?

No.

But I have found Jerry's products to be well made and handsome and as I write this I am wearing a green heavyweight kilt from Stillwater. It is one of my favorite kilts (along with my Matt Newsome 5 yard knife pleat and USA semi traditonal ). I have seen both the regular and miltary box pleat Leatherneck tartan heavyweight kilts from Stillwater and they are handsome kilts. Jerry is a member of XMTS and a kiltwearer. He isn't going to offer something that he as a kiltie wouldn't wear. He stands by his products and his customer service is second to none. He very seldom enters discussions about his products but as I noted earlier he is happy to answer your questions.

Hope this was of help.

Cheers

Jamie

* I have only owned SWK Heavyweights and Standards so I can't comment much on the Economy model. TimC. has a Gordon one and it looks nice (though the straps seem much thinner than the standards).

**Tattoo Bradley** · 25th October 07, 08:52 AM

I might be able to help. Firstly, the price is so low because the "heavyweight wool" is not the same as a Scottish Worsted 16 oz. wool cloth. I'm pretty sure the wool the SWKs are made from are woven in the Middle East. I know the kilts are constructed there. The price is also low because the kilts are mass produced, and are not hand sewn garments (like the CCK Maple Leaf and Matt Newsome hand sewn PSD tartans you mentioned.) Having once owned a SWK heavyweight and still owning a Matt Newsome made from Lochcarron Strome, I can tell you there is no comparison. That's not say the SWK heavyweight is "no good." But, the price difference is certainly justified.

Pleating to the sett means the full tartan pattern appears across the pleats. Pleating to the stripe is where the pleats are all set to the same recurring stripe. If that makes any sense...

**Chase** · 25th October 07, 09:15 AM

which of the two is better or preferred?

**Riverkilt** · 25th October 07, 09:16 AM

Chase,

If you are willing to spend in the $500 range for hand sewn then do yourself the honor of going top of the line with your Leatherneck. There is such a visual and tactile difference between quality fabric hand sewn to your size by a kiltmaker and the options.

While I understand the market for mass produced Leatherneck tartan kilts it just seemed appropriate to honor the tartan with a top of the line kilt.

In addition to Matt and Barb and other hand sewn kilmakers you might check with Kathy Lare www.kathyskilts.com she was trainend in at the Keith Kilt School in Scotland to sew those military box pleats Panache mentioned. Her family is a USMC family and her husband Rob was sporting his military box pleat Leatherneck at Stone Mountain last weekend.

But point is, don't limit yourself. Start at the top of the line, in honor of whatever you're honoring with the Leatherneck tartan, then decide what you want to spend or what you can afford.

Semper Fi
Ron
Who's been hooked on a top of the line Leatherneck since he first saw one and now has one of his own.

**Chase** · 25th October 07, 09:16 AM

Sorry...Pleating to the sett or to the stripe...What is the more common?

**Riverkilt** · 25th October 07, 09:24 AM

I always trust my kiltmaker. Kathy pleated mine to the sett.

The way she pleats to the sett is so precise folks will think your kilt's on backwards. Just the regular knife pleats. Not the military box pleat.

Here's the front

Yeah, red is a stretch...

Ron

**Chase** · 25th October 07, 09:24 AM

Ron,

Hey thanks brother...Right now, I've got three kilts on order and still need two more to complete my collection...I wish I could afford the hand-sewn USMC, but I have to budget myself for the USN tartan and I was thinking of getting a Black Watch vs Texas Bluebonnet?

SF