Tales from the Kilt

FYI

http://www.scottishtartans.org/kilt.html

Ah, cambeul41

Thanks much for the invite! Alas, I must tell you I am a McDonald

Ash

wow, 77 posts on kilts!

Quote:
Only ONE knot???
It's a very complex knot.
Note: See "Celtic Knot"
Best,
Rob

"Ah, cambeul41

Thanks much for the invite! Alas, I must tell you I am a McDonald

Ash"


Remember Glencoe

Hey lgs, I used to live in Mobile.

Quote:
Only ONE knot???
It's a very complex knot.
Note: See "Celtic Knot"
Best,
Rob

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every try and draw one of these? its hard. ever try to TIE one? its harder. and only the celts have enough lenght to do that!


anyone who i just offended, sorry.

Wow - quite a surprise. I never expected to learn so much, and current info at that, about kilts - on a gun site! My Scot gr. grandfather left Dundee in 1796, and I have never been to Scotland, but I am a Scot, with my clan tie. I just wasn't aware of what has been discussed on this site - thank you one and all!
sailortoo

Okay, I finally found a good demonstration of the feilidh mòr ("great wrap" or belted plaid):

http://www.historichighlanders.com/belted.htm

Notice on the last page:

The feile mor could also be worn pinned at the neck for a cloak and the extra pulled up over the head for a hood. It was also used as your bed roll, lean-to (a crude tent) if needed, a truly versatile garment. When worn over the shoulder the tucked areas would form "pockets" in which to carry items.

Click to expand...

I think that last should answer the question of how/where to carry one or more concealed handguns while wearing a "kilt"

I think that last should answer the question of how/where to carry one or more concealed handguns while wearing a "kilt"

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Which is exactly what the Scots did. Their tactic (18th century) was to fire the musket, then drop it and charge with the claidh beag in one hand and a pistol in the other.

With a modern kilt, you have pretty much the same options as with pants. You can go IWB (with a Utilikilt-type garment; dress kilt belts are too wide for most basic holsters), or you can carry in the sporran (think pocket carry, but the sporran is generally made of much stiffer material than a pants pocket, and conceals a pistol much better). Or you can just go OWB open carry, and trust that the kilt will be distracting enough to people that they won't notice or pay attention to the pistol.

I just bought a Mountain Hardwear mountain kilt, and the look on my 14 year old daughter's face when I wore it thru the house was worth 10 times what I paid for it.

Tallpine, somewhere there is a video of me at Edinburgh Castle on my honeymoon trip, getting wrapped much like the fellow on that web page. All in front of a class of giggling 10 year old English schoolgirls on a trip. When he asked me to come up for the demo, I think I said "will I get to kill English?"

He also mentioned the ancient tartans would have been heavily oil impregnated to keep the rain off. mmmm....wet wool smell.

kilts were also handy hunting garments for the highlands. when crawling (no 100 yard shots back in the day) to get cloase to game, the heather and other highland plants would end up going down the front of your garment. the kilt just let them exit the other end, while pants would keep them in and make it uncomfortable.

hummmmm i must buy a kilt now

i gotta ask my dad what our tartan is our clan is galbraith i think would that be the tartan?

"will I get to kill English?"

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The sources keep saying that the wool was only woven in about 30" widths but they don't mention that the women did a process called "waulking" in which the wet wool was pummeled and squeezed until dry. The shrunken result was a very tight and nearly waterproof weave. I'm guessing close to half of the width was lost in the process.

The Scots have a whole genre of music called "waulking songs" to which the women performed this task communally.

My 14yo daughter walked by as I was perusing one the "We Sell Kilts" websites.

She said, and I quote:

"Oh no you won't dad. MOM !!!! Dad is looking at getting a kilt, please tell him NO !!!!"

Now I have an incentive. I thinking of either the US Army Tartan or County Clare (family origin). Maybe a Utilikilt as well.

We'll see what Mrs. Scout says.

I've always wanted to buy a kilt and it's never been more appropriate for this forum. That branch of my family is from clan Gunn.

Aut Pax Aut Bellum.

my family is from Fife, what clan is that?

I thinking of either the US Army Tartan or County Clare (family origin).

Click to expand...

County Clare is in Ireland. The proper kilt for you is the Irish saffron, like I wear.

"will I get to kill English?"

Click to expand...

of course! it's open season laddie!

Remember, it was an Irishman who said that.

so i found my family tartan. the "Wilson" tartan from Fife. yes, i am a relitive of James Wilson, signed the Declaration of Independence.

And a third from OKC.

This thread rekindled my interest in finding a good kilt, and while I was poking around, I stumbled across http://www.kommandokilts.com/ right here in OKC.

I think I'm going to go visit tomorrow, if they're open.