Traditional Kilt Pins

[OC Richard]

Kilt pins weren't much of a thing even in the Victorian period.

In the mid-19th century when they do appear they were generally round, and appear to have been more or less a downsized Clan cap badge.

In the military, kilt pins were only worn by a couple regiments, and they resembled ordinary blanket pins.

Here, in a Highland Dress catalogue from c1930, only the plain blanket pin and grouse claw are illustrated



Kilt pins didn't become a common feature of civilian Highland Dress until the early 20th century, being yet one more aspect of the general overhaul of Highland Dress at that time.

When I started kiltwearing (1975) the kilt pins I saw in catalogues and being worn were small lightweight fairly delicate reproductions of Highland weaponry (sword, sword & shield, dirk, axe) in Sterling Silver.

The most common firm one saw was Robert Allison & Son, Glasgow (1938-1982) who also made plaid brooches, pins and brooches for feminine wear, sginean, dirks, cap badges, and silverware (table settings etc).

The offerings of Robert Allison came to define what I still think of as "traditional kilt pins". They were designed and produced specifically for the purpose of being kilt pins; as far as I know, no other purpose was envisioned.

Here's a collection of Robert Allison kilt pins in Sterling Silver being hallmarks ranging from 1946 to 1960, mostly from the 1950s, with one outlier hallmarked 1970. Many of these designs are widely copied even today.

Sword pins, one style:









A second style of sword: