Quote Originally Posted by beloitpiper View Post
WPG kilts may be made in Pakistan, but the Gordon one I have is really, really good.
That's fine but I surely not in the same league. Many of the Gordon kilts (up into the 1980s) were made by Thomas Gordon and Sons in Glasgow (they had some of the best military tailors in Scotland, among them Elsie Stuehmeyer of "The Art of Kiltmaking") but even the last batch from Argyle Kilts Ltd were very good.
Heavy, thick wool with lots of thick pleats and good stitching.
I don't disagree but not the same grade and quality of wool as from Noble nor the quality of workmanship from Thomas Gordon & Sons or Argyle Ltd.
Look at the photos on the "real deal" site, the buckles and straps are even the same!!!
The buckles are more or less the same pattern but not the same.
It is also HALF the price as the "real deal" kilts.
150 GBP is $300 USD. WPG kilts are.. $300 USD.
I won't argue that the others are good quality, because they probably are, but I am arguing that WPG kilts are very good, if not as good.
I truly suggest that you have a look at the "real deal". I've NEVER seen a Pakistani kilt to the same standards as what the UK MOD took delivery of.

You know what...after looking through the site, I'm not entirely convinced that those items are military surplus.
I think they certainly are. A lot of kit became obsolete through the consolidation. I'd have a hard time believing that legitimate channels have taken to counterfeiting Thomas Gordon, Argyle Ltd, Hector Russell etc. army surplus kilts (especially at this price point) at a time when the stores are being emptied of them. I also know a few ex-army kiltmakers that are selling them and none have to my knowledge detected fakes. These are not designer jeans, training shoes or handbags. The market is just too tiny.

Either WPG is really good at reproducing military items, or they are the same products...
They are not and you are really the first to suggest that they could be. Leaving aside the workmanship.. the cloth is very different. The WPG kilts are quite stiff, dull and rough. The Noble cloth is finer in grade and has a special sheen. Absolutely not comparable (and it should be given the extreme high price Noble charges)!