looking for a fancy new kilt pin and sgian dubh

**kid icarus** · 26th January 10, 11:09 PM

looking for a fancy new kilt pin and sgian dubh...although i want them to be more formal than day-wear. i wear a davidson modern set to the red stripe in back. i'm also a piper...are there piper specific dubhs and pins in the highland regiments? i'm also interested in more of an ww1 - ww2 ish feel. classic yet modern. any ideas?

**Fit2BKilted** · 27th January 10, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by kid icarus

looking for a fancy new kilt pin and sgian dubh...although i want them to be more formal than day-wear. i wear a davidson modern set to the red stripe in back. i'm also a piper...are there piper specific dubhs and pins in the highland regiments? i'm also interested in more of an ww1 - ww2 ish feel. classic yet modern. any ideas?

What Price Glory Sadly, it seems that they don't stock the items you seek :-(

**haukehaien** · 27th January 10, 03:00 PM

IMA has a nice reproduction sgian dubh. You can also get a 42nd Highlanders swagger stick.

Military kilt pins tended to be of the "safety pin" style. You should be able to find one of that sort.

**thescot** · 27th January 10, 03:32 PM

I don't know what kind of money you are willing or able to spend, but look at this sterling silver kilt pin; scroll down to the first row of pins.
http://www.houseoflabhran.net/scotti...rrybadges.html

They also have some excellent sgians at a premium
http://www.houseoflabhran.net/highla...dkiltpins.html

**jordanjm** · 27th January 10, 11:28 PM

I don't know how much money you want to spend, but a Sgian Dubh from here is on my list for when I have enough money.

http://www.rainnea.com/

**kid icarus** · 27th January 10, 11:40 PM

WHOA!!! those are some sweet sites!!! can i really get away with wearing a scots guards piper kilt pin? ;P thanks guys! anyone else have some cool sites like these?

**OC Richard** · 28th January 10, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by kid icarus

looking for a fancy new kilt pin and sgian dubh......are there piper specific dubhs and pins in the highland regiments?

You have two potentially conflicting things going on: "fancy" vs "regimental".

Especially in the realm of kilt pins: most of the Highland regiments didn't wear them, and the regiment that did, the Gordon Highlanders, wore a simple blanket pin, like a huge saftey pin.

The exception that jumps to mind is the Scots Guards pipers, who've for a long time worn a unique kilt pin, a bar that passes through the kilt and has threaded balls on both ends, a tiny chain connecting the balls, and a miniature Scots Guards cap badge in the centre.

Now for sginean (the plural of sgian) the "fancy" and the "regimental" come together most beautifully in the sgian worn by the Gordon Highlanders which was quite ornate. If you Google it you'll see what I mean.

The other regimental sginean were not nearly as ornate, having a straight-sided handle, basketweave carving, nail-heads, etc. Some were rather plain, others were fairly fancy: check out the sgian of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders which has cool Celtic dragons and knotwork on the sheath.

**Jock Scot** · 28th January 10, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by kid icarus

WHOA!!! those are some sweet sites!!! can i really get away with wearing a scots guards piper kilt pin? ;P thanks guys! anyone else have some cool sites like these?

Can I ask you to consider something. Have you served in the Scots Guards? Are you serving in the Scots Guards? If the answer to those two questions is no, then please don't wear the Scots Guards kilt pin which contains their regimental badge. It might not mean much to many, but to those that are serving and have served with that regiment it means almost everything. Just so you know wearing unit badges that you are not entitled to is just not done in the UK and the Commonwealth. So can I ask you to be sympathetic to our customs. Thank you.

**davidlpope** · 28th January 10, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by kid icarus

can i really get away with wearing a scots guards piper kilt pin?

[Disclaimer: Personal Opinion Follows]

I strongly encourage you not to. As Jock notes, military insignia, particularly specific unit insignia, "says" I served in this unit. Unless one IS serving or HAS served with that unit I think it smacks of stolen sacrifice.

I've seen many opinions expressed here on XMarks along these lines: "I'm wearing this insignia to honor(emphasis mine) my grandfather/cousin/second uncle-in-law once removed, nobody in particular, etc. who was in the Black Watch/Scots Guards/Marines, etc." It seems that this reasoning bleeds over from the rationale employed when deciding which tartan to wear. My opinion is that in many cases this thinking is not really about honoring anyone and is instead a license to wear whatever insignia one desires. In my mind this reasoning is deeply flawed, for a variety of reasons that I won't get into, as they are off-topic and likely to cause ill-will.

There are some really wonderful civilian items which are available. Rab Gordon and House of Labhran, in particular, have some really nice pieces. I'd really encourage you to consider these.

Cordially,

David

**ShaunMaxwell** · 28th January 10, 11:09 AM

I'd run across this the last time I was searching for a bladesmith to make another sgian and thought it might fit the bill: http://www.scotiametalwork.com/page26.html

It's pretty simple, but still a bit on the dressier side, IMHO, and is reasonably priced for a handmade knife. The 1095 blade means that this would be a functional knife as well as a thing of beauty.

These may be too simple for your current needs, but check out this maker as well (my most recent here: http://www.adriaangerberknives.com/9cm2_1.html).