Kilt pin location

[OC Richard]

What's perhaps interesting is that early military kilts didn't have buckles, and were held at the waist by pins.

The only regiment that wore kilt pins was the Gordon Highlanders, and they wore blanket-pin style pins (as you can see in the photo I posted).

Which makes me wonder if the Gordon Highlanders kilt pins evolved from the pins originally holding the kilt on, simply a matter of one of the pins migrating further down the kilt a bit, where it's visible, and where it became decorative.

I don't believe the story that Queen Victoria ordered all the kilted regiments to wear kilt pins when she saw the wind blowing a soldier's kilt up. For one thing, only the Gordons wore them. For another thing, if the wind blows up that edge of the upper apron the lower apron is underneath. If the wind blows hard enough to lift both aprons, it's going to do so whether or not a kilt pin is there, the military blanket pins having insignificant weight when pinned to a heavy 22oz military kilt. (I know from personal experience, having worn MOD kilts and 16oz civilian kilts in all sorts of wind both with and without kilt pins.)

[creagdhubh]

What's perhaps interesting is that early military kilts didn't have buckles, and were held at the waist by pins.

The only regiment that wore kilt pins was the Gordon Highlanders, and they wore blanket-pin style pins (as you can see in the photo I posted).

Which makes me wonder if the Gordon Highlanders kilt pins evolved from the pins originally holding the kilt on, simply a matter of one of the pins migrating further down the kilt a bit, where it's visible, and where it became decorative.

I don't believe the story that Queen Victoria ordered all the kilted regiments to wear kilt pins when she saw the wind blowing a soldier's kilt up. For one thing, only the Gordons wore them. For another thing, if the wind blows up that edge of the upper apron the lower apron is underneath. If the wind blows hard enough to lift both aprons, it's going to do so whether or not a kilt pin is there, the military blanket pins having insignificant weight when pinned to a heavy 22oz military kilt. (I know from personal experience, having worn MOD kilts and 16oz civilian kilts in all sorts of wind both with and without kilt pins.)

Well said Richard.

[Jock Scot]

You may be interested to see where I wear my Grandfather's Gordon Highlanders kilt pin---he wore it right through WW1---I know he used to despair of me wearing my kilt pin(not that one, whilst he was alive) so low, but I think it was just the "youthful rebellion" thing at the time and it has stuck.

For those that may be interested, also starring in the picture with the silver kilt pin are my grandfather's silver collar stays(stiffeners),his silver cuff links and his marching compass and my father's pocket watch and chain, all of which I use regularly.

[BoldHighlander]

Wonderful family heirlooms, Jock!
Thanks for sharing them with us!

[English Bloke]

What precious things those are Jock. Good to see you're still using them frequently and not storing them away in bubble wrap. I wear my Grandfather's silver pocket watch that's over 100 years old and I've done so for 25+ years. It winds with a key on the watch chain and still keeps good time.

[Spartan Tartan]

Wow, Jock. Thanks for sharing.