Question about “MOD” sporrans

[OC Richard]

It’s funny you mention that, because I was just wondering about the different belts. Even the two Pipe Majors (?) seem to have different style belts! I’m sure there’s a rhyme and reason, but it’s lost on me.

It looks like the Pipe Major is the same man in both photos (Pipe Major Burns). He's far left in both.

Interestingly, in No1 Dress he's wearing the same portrait-oriented buckle as the rest of the pipers, but in No2 Dress he's wearing a different buckle, landscape-oriented.

Generally Pipe Majors wear different hardware, both waistbelt and crossbelt, than the other pipers.

Here's Pipe Major Harvie of 1SCOTS showing the landscape-oriented waistbelt buckle that PM Burns is wearing in No2 Dress above. It's the buckle formerly worn by the pipers of the KOSB, scrollwork, with strap & buckle bearing the Roman numerals XXV (25th Foot, the King's Own Borderers).

BTW the Pipes & Drums of 1SCOTS was disbanded in 2021.

(Notice the way the Drum Major's crimson silk sash catches the light the upper portion appears fuchsia; obviously it isn't really like that.)

(Also for tartan-spotters notice the PM is wearing Royal Stewart in three different sett-sizes.)



Also in that No2 Dress photo the officer is wearing the Sam Browne belt (as officers have since Service Dress was introduced) and there are two men wearing the ordinary RRS buckle but on a black belt. I can't make out the rank/office of either man.