WTB: Liverpool Scottish kilt (Forbes tartan, military pattern)

[48HofC]

Generally as a rule everything that was issued to you in the Canadian Forces is turned back in when it is either warn out or you are no longer in the service. Depending on the storesman who takes your kit, they might tell you to keep items that are second skin ie; undergarments,shoes etc, but that is not the norm.
99.9% of the highland kit is owned directly by the regiment itself, not the army. These are purchased through regimental funds and are sourced through the best priced manufacturers at the time required so they could be of Scottish or Canadian origin. The example I will use is the 48th Highlanders of Canada. They are the only Scottish unit in the world that can turn out the entire regiment in scarlet full dress from feather bonnet to hair sporran. When not in use, the full dress items are turned back into regimental stores until required again. The only exception is the pipes and drums who have their own separate stores and keep their full dress as regular issue. Since their founding in 1891, the regiment has never surplused any highland kit and for that fact, every piece of 48th highland kit that someone sells on eBay as an issued item, can in fact be seized as stolen....The regiment actually does enforce this in some circumstances.
The only items you would generally buy is blue patrols and mess dress which you can dispose of as you wish. Some individuals choose to buy uniform parts because they have the money and choose a tailor fit. I myself have had items made by Myer and Mortimer in London England for the mere fact I enjoy proper turnout.
You are correct about most high ticket items being purchased or donated to the regiment and being loaned out. Some officers will buy their own broadsword or sgian dubh, but there is a pool to draw from if they choose. Most pipes are owned by the pipers with a scattering of a few regimental sets among them. The drums are supplied by the army, but the regiment will have the battle honors emblazoned on them at their own cost and usually remove them when a new set is issued.
As for finding surplus highland kit in Canada, the prospects are very dim. Most CF clothing items are supposed to be sliced with a knife or marked up to be made unserviceable and are sold off as used fabric or leather in 4x4 cardboard bins. Highland kit as a rule stays within the regiment until it is basically ready for the bin. British kit is sold off though, usually intact through MOD disposal, hence all the RRS items on eBay. Some pre amalgamation kilts/trews etc have been kept by the new battalions but most was disposed of between 2006 and 2008 by the MOD. The stuff is