Clan Badges as Kilt Pins?

[Wompet]

I've been rooting around EBay a bit this last week for kilt pins, and there's something I keep seeing. In among what I've always thought were kilt pins (elongate form, normally sword- or cross-shaped, with a long pin on the back) are circular clan badges (the "belted" clan crest).

Are these mistakes (intentional or accidental) or the part of the sellers, or is it appropriate to wear a clan badge as a kilt pin?

And if it is appropriate, are there other acceptable alternatives to "traditional" kilt pins? I remember seeing a stuffed gecko in Daneel's gallery, for instance. And of course there's the "XMarks" kilt pin, too ... ??: ... Let me rephrase the question - what have the folks here used as acceptable alternatives?

[Tiran]

I wore a large silver AIDS ribbon with a pinchback pin. Is that what they are called? The round back with the little wings you pinch to put it on and off?
Anyway it looked good, but swung to much and fuzzed the area it was on (its an inexpensive kilt, but it will do for now). If I use it again I will through a loop of thread around it to keep it from moving. It was also a bit small.
You can sort of see it in the first pic of me in this post. http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=12816

Looked pretty sharp though.

[Phil Wright]

You can get the same clan crests on a sword or targe as kilt pins, but as far as I know the larger round clan badges are best for on headwear. Having said that I have several 'pins' that I use, usually celtic knots or such like. Most admittedly are the long, straight ones, though I do have 2 round brooches that I wear 'cos I love 'em! They work well with the colouring in the kilt. My only recommendation is that unless it states kilt pin, don't buy it unless you check out the weight. Too much and you'll have an apron with more holes than a Swiss cheese.
Phil

[Cawdorian]

The weight of the clan badges seems to vary quite a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer, I have one that is rather light and another one made by another manufacturer that is much heavier and deeper than the the other one.

You can buy clan badges in several diameters, I have one ad that offers clan badges in diameters as small as 7/8". Try www.dunedinscottish.com they have the small diameter badges.

My personal choice is the long kilt sword shaped pin.

[Wompet]

First, thanks for the suggestions.

What I did was take a small clan crest (too light for a kilt pin by itself, and the pin was the wrong way anyway), take off the pin with a Dremel tool, and epoxy the crest to a 1" washer coated in flat black enamel (the enamel matches the recessed areas in the crest). I now have a crest, with a black border, that has a little bit of weight. And to prevent what happened to KCW, it's held on with a magnet on the underside of the apron - a magnet that is strong enough to hold it in place, but will allow the crest to 'pop off' instead of tearing the kilt, should it get caught on anything.

I'll post some pics as soon as I get it back from my brother.