Regimental Pipers Shoe Buckles

[creagdhubh]

Greetings,

I was perusing through Ebay the other day and came across a set of new, unissued Army buckles:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/scottish-reg...item1c2c2a9f50

The seller lists them as "Scottish Regimental Pipers Shoe Buckle." Now, I understand how the smaller buckle functions with the prong on an actual pair of ("Mary Jane" style) buckle brogues, but what about the larger buckles that are meant to be affixed to the toe area? They also have a prong, but I am confused as to why it is necessary? How are the larger buckles actually attached? Is the overall shoe design completely different than the traditional bar and buckle brogues sold today?

I own a pair of bar and buckle brogues in black, patent leather from Nicoll Brothers. The large, decorative buckle that is affixed onto the toe by means of a snap closure does not have the prong setup. I am quite sure my questions can be answered by someone far more knowledgeable on this subject than myself.

These buckle brogues, shown on Her Majesty's piper, may have the same set of Army buckles in question. Not a very detailed photograph of the footwear I know, yet from what I can see, the style of the buckles appear to be somewhat similar to the Ebay buckles.


Cheers,

[Padraicog]

Kyle

The buckles you see on ebay are for what I believe are called Guards Pattern buckled brogues. The larger of the buckles fits on to the toe of the shoe just like a belt buckle. These brogues which are manufactured by a company called Sanders based in Northhampton a centre for shoe making in the UK. They are normally only available to the military and occasionally appear on ebay without buckles. My understanding is that the buckles are manufactured by Dalman and Narborough who are based in Birmingham UK

It looks very much as though the buckles worn by Jim Motherwell in your photograph are the same type as advertised on ebay and that he is wearing Guards Pattern brogues

What you call the bar and buckle brogues are now also used by the military but the front buckle in those models is a "false" buckle and decorative only

In my view the Guards Pattern brogues are much more impressive.

[BCAC]

Kyle

The buckles you see on ebay are for what I believe are called Guards Pattern buckled brogues. The larger of the buckles fits on to the toe of the shoe just like a belt buckle. These brogues which are manufactured by a company called Sanders based in Northhampton a centre for shoe making in the UK. They are normally only available to the military and occasionally appear on ebay without buckles. My understanding is that the buckles are manufactured by Dalman and Narborough who are based in Birmingham UK
It looks very much as though the buckles worn by Jim Motherwell in your photograph are the same type as advertised on ebay and that he is wearing Guards Pattern brogues

What you call the bar and buckle brogues are now also used by the military but the front buckle in those models is a "false" buckle and decorative only

In my view the Guards Pattern brogues are much more impressive.

Your understanding seems to be wrong in this case because on the ebay page it says that they are manufactured by Firmin and sons Ltd for the MOD.

[Padraicog]

Your understanding seems to be wrong in this case because on the ebay page it says that they are manufactured by Firmin and sons Ltd for the MOD.

I saw that but had meant to say in my post that D&N also manufactured such buckles - or used to. Bad editing of the original post on my part!

[creagdhubh]

Thanks, gents!

[Padraicog]

I hope it's not against the rules to say I am also selling a set on ebay

[MacSpadger]

It's now easy to obtain a set outside of having to join the British Army!
The London Scottish Regimental Gift Shop now supply them via mail order.
http://www.londonscottishregt.org/shop/shop_page1.cfm

There was a time when I could have offered to pick them up in person on a Thursday night or a weekend, but not any more.

[Padraicog]

Adam

Those sold in the London Scottish shop are not the same as the Guards' Pattern. They have "pretend" buckles and in my opinion are not such good quality as the Sanders make.

And how are you enjoying being back in Scotland?

[MacSpadger]

Adam

Those sold in the London Scottish shop are not the same as the Guards' Pattern. They have "pretend" buckles and in my opinion are not such good quality as the Sanders make.

And how are you enjoying being back in Scotland?

That's a shame, but I can't tell from the pics. Quality has gone down hill all round, really, unless you fork out yourself. My early 80's pair of bullhide QOH brogues are still looking very good and will probably last longer than I do. Thinking on it, make that "will definitely last longer than I do".

Life in Scotland is good, I am having to improve my piping a lot, the quality is much higher here, tunes for 2013 are issued, the band hall is going 3 or 4 nights a week with some weekend meets. I am daft enough to be contemplating solo competition in 2013, so am also learning some big tunes tunes through evening classes at the CoP and some sessions with Willie Morrison.
I am working at the Kelvingrove, so surrounded by 18th century kilts, jackets, bagpipes, flintlocks, broadswords, etc, every working minute just to remind me of what country I live in.

[OC Richard]

buckled brogues in the Army