Show Us Your Kilt Pins.

[English Bloke]

Pin 16

My 16oz MacKenzie Ancient, another ebay scoop, came pinless and did host Pin 05 for a brief while but I recently scored this beauty on ebay. It had a start price of 99p (I was optimistic) then went up to £2.20 for a couple of days then went to £6.10 in the last minute. Fortunately my previously bid "The price I'm prepared to pay" was higher so I still topped the other bidders... If it was you by the way, will you stop doing that!! So for £7.50 delivered, a novel, good quality and intersting pin that's not your standard sword.

Some other Pins, currently without Kilts.

Pin 17

I saw this in an auction too and couldn't resist. It was another give away and is made of pewter with a black err... glass? stone set in the centre of the cross. It is a good 4" long but unfortunately doesn't get worn often as the fastening is a pin and hook and I'm terrified the unprotected sharp point will wind up in my leg or worserrer still, jag into my kilt and tear it.

Pin 18

This is another ebay give away at 99p. It's 3.5" and features celtic stylised birds. Again the reason it's not being worn is the pin and roll clasp fastening is very flimsy and would definately give if put under any stress. I'll look into replacing the clasp with a stronger one in due course. I've gone right off attaching pins with earth magnets by the way. Tried it with one, and my fridge absolutely loved it but it's a bit awkward being kilt checked by a domestic appliance so I was not so keen.

Pin 19

As some of you may be aware, one of the few things in life I take seriously is remembering. I am a frequent visitor to European battlefields and have been to others including Gallipoli, and as an Ex, I'm also a keen and paid up member of the Royal British Legion. I wear a poppy lapel pin in all my jackets, all the time but this beauty was shown to us all by X Marker acaig in October 09. I bought one from the Royal British Legion website immediately and wear it whenever I'm out remembering and kilted. I position it about an inch or so above whichever regular pin I'm wearing at the time. This one is an inch and a bit across and features a wreath of vivid red, enamelled poppies. A lovely little thing.

Protecting your pins.
As I mentioned above, I've already lost a clan crest badge which was in a "now you see it, now you don't" situation. It's not the lost value of the badge that narked me it's that it was MY badge from My collection (dagnabbit). I took steps to ensure it wouldn't happen again by adopting a lead I first heard of from Ron (Riverkilt) MacDonald, where all my kiltpins are now secured using a flat rubber band.


If the fastening actually snaps, it probably won't help much but if it just works loose, the band will stop the pin slipping through the fabric and likely save the day.


So those are my kiltpins to date, less some I have fallen out of love with and disposed of.

I know some people would only wear one kilt so have no need for more than one pin, I know that some people who wear more than one kilt are happy swapping one pin around, I know some don't like pins at all and never wear them, I know some only wear tradtional blanket pins attached upsidedown, I know that some people would never wear anything so tawdry as pewter and glass.

I make no comment or critisism on whatever you choose to do and I ask that folks don't use my propensity of kilts and shallow approach to tartans or my love of cheap, shiny things as a stick to beat me with.

The point of the thread is to share some interesting pins I have and offer everyone a central location in which to post pictures of interesting pins they may have.

I know there are many threads here where members have shared images of new pins they have aquired and I love looking at those but they really are difficult to track down after a month or so has passed.

To those who wish to contribute, there is no requirement to document your whole collection (I have, just to get this started) but if you have an interesting pin or get hold of a new and interesting pin, please post it here... I would however like to warn people who, as yet don't collect them! It can become as addictive as any other aspect of highland attire and your collection will soon exceed the number of kilts you own. On the plus side, it's cheaper than buying kilts.