I just bought a new (to me) kilt!

**Crazy Dave** · 18th December 20, 08:09 AM

Hi All,

Money has been tight with COVID, but I was looking at a small charity action site, where I usually go looking for watches (I collect Seiko quarts watches) and saw they had a kilt. It was made buy Duncan Chisholm & Sons and appears from the pictures to be a very well made, and hand made, bespoke (for somebody else) wool kilt. It might be an ex-hire, because that is a big part of Duncan Chisholm & Sons business currently. The tartan is an exact match to MacDonald Ancient/Old/Muted, but is brighter in color than any examples I could find on the web, but not deep enough to be MacDonald modern. It could be the way they photographed it. It has 2 thick long leather straps, one on each side, and no belt loops. The wool appears to be thick, at least medium weight and there is a lot of it. The pleats are vary narrow. Sizing may be a problem. They were imprecise on the measurements and I don't know if they measured it properly. I may need help from the rabble on how to alter it. It may just need 1 or 2 strap extensions. At 24" inches in length, I will have to wear it at my natural waist, but that is where I like to wear a kilt. If there is a fatal flaw, or I just can't get it to fit, then I just made a donation to a worthy charity. However, everything that I have bought from this site so far, I have been very happy with. The cost was under $40, so I'm not taking much of a risk. As bets go, this one has excellent odds with a very nice payout if it goes my way!

I wanted to try a real wool kilt to try before I dropped $5-600 on a bespoke kilt with the MacPherson tartan. I'm leaning towards a hunting tartan. I was think of ordering a Sillwater Black Watch. This seemed like a better way to go. I looked, but their doesn't appear to be any animus between the MacPersons and the MacDonalds, but I'll have to come up with an explanation of why I'm wearing it, because people will ask. I'll probably just say that I like the tartan an the price was too low to resist.

**Jock Scot** · 18th December 20, 08:30 AM

I have no idea if you have one of Duncan Chisholm's bespoke kilts, but from your description it could be. If it is, then you will have a kilt made by one of THE kilt makers in Scotland.

For what it is worth I have a bespoke kilt made by them and its still going strong some forty years later! In that time, in spite of my occasional growth------around the waist ----and less common shrinkage, its seen me through numerous weddings......including one of my own......funerals, parties( some rather grand affairs) regular day to day events, including shooting and fishing and general countryside pursuits and much, much, more. For sure it was expensive at the time of purchase, but after all this time it owes me nothing

I hope that you have many years of enjoyment with it.

**Crazy Dave** · 18th December 20, 08:44 AM

Thanks Father Bill! It is good to know about the sizing and quality. Maybe I can leave it to my grandson. I often had wished that the family had kept my great grandfather's kilt.

That's what the hand stitched on label said. It looked genuine enough from the multiple pictures. All the stitching looked first rate, especially the pleats. My mother was an accomplished seamstress and I know what to look for. Of course I won't know for sure until I get it. Sounds like I could of hit the jackpot. Maybe it will arrive before Christmas! Well see. I'll post pictures when it does arrive assuming all is well. I'll probably post even if it's not to my expectation. The doubt is part of the fun! I don't mind others getting a laugh at my folly!

**KennethSime** · 18th December 20, 09:03 AM

Congrats! Do show us pictures when you get it.

I picked up an older USA Kilts Casual kilt in the MacKinnon tartan a few months ago for $30. I've worn it a few times, but I think it's just a touch too small for me. Definitely worth the $30 experiment, though.

I peruse eBay for wool kilts, but have yet to find another kilt that fits into my price/size delta. If you're an average-size gent, there are plenty of great deals to be had!

**Father Bill** · 18th December 20, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Crazy Dave

Thanks Father Bill

Nice to be thanked, but it was Jock, not me.

**Crazy Dave** · 18th December 20, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

Nice to be thanked, but it was Jock, not me.

Oops! Thanks Jock!

**Crazy Dave** · 18th December 20, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by KennethSime

Congrats! Do show us pictures when you get it.

I picked up an older USA Kilts Casual kilt in the MacKinnon tartan a few months ago for $30. ... If you're an average-size gent, there are plenty of great deals to be had!

Id have taken that chance! I'm pretty average, 5'8'' 175 lbs. I could stand to lose a few pounds and am trying to do that right now, so even if it's a little small, I'll try to shrink into it.

I haven't done to much eBay. To much competition. I prefer smaller, relatively unknown auction sites. Everything I have bought, I would have had to pay much more to get the same thing on eBay.

**Jock Scot** · 18th December 20, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Crazy Dave

Oops! Thanks Jock!

No worries my dear chap, anything to help.

**OC Richard** · 18th December 20, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Crazy Dave

The tartan is an exact match to MacDonald Ancient/Old/Muted, but is brighter in color than any examples I could find on the web, but not deep enough to be MacDonald modern.

It's hard to know without seeing it. I just now quickly put together Modern, Ancient, Lochcarron "weathered" and House Of Edgar "muted" MacDonald.

Originally Posted by Crazy Dave

leather straps, one on each side, and no belt loops.

That's how I like kilts to be! Two straps, no belt loops.

Originally Posted by Crazy Dave

24" inches in length

That's pretty much the default length nowadays for men of average height. It's generally the length of Hire kilts.

All in all it sounds like a super kilt. Looking forward to pictures!