recent Black Watch acquisitions

[OC Richard]

So years ago I played in a pipe band that wore semi-Gordon Highlanders Full Dress. All that kit is long gone (well except for spats with black buttons that are too tight now).

Recently I decided to put together enough Black Watch pipers' kit to make a good showing at gigs.

It will be a long process! An 18oz Royal Stewart kilt is on order, as are red & black hosetops.

Here's what I have so far... very little!

1) pipers' No1 Dress/No2 Dress Ceremonial sporran
2) dark blue Glengarry, cap badge mounted directly on hat (no cockade)
3) Pipe Major's No1 Dress/No2 Dress Ceremonial waistbelt buckle
4) No2 Dress sporran (I still need the badge!)



I only paid around $30 for the No2 Dress sporran on Ebay, from Canada, and it appears to be the real thing, stamped 1962.

What now? I have a Black Watch cover for my pipes. I now need one Black Watch and one Royal Stewart tartan drone ribbon. Kilt and hosetops coming. An Archer Green doublet needs to be ordered soon.

[TheOfficialBren]

A little OT but are the sporrans from WhatPriceGlory.com of good quality and are they accurate reproductions of real Highland Regimental sporrans?

Good luck with your Black Watch piper's kit. I'm sure it will look smashing!

[OC Richard]

are the sporrans from WhatPriceGlory.com of good quality and are they accurate reproductions of real Highland Regimental sporrans?

The Black Watch sporrans as seen above (worn by the ranks of sergeant and above, and by all pipers regardless of rank) by WPG are pretty good reproductions. The hair on the body and tassels is nice. The cantle, though, appears to have been re-cast from a rather worn original, and doesn't have as much detail as one would like. Also the finish on the cantle is rather duller than that on an MOD cantle.

Since I couldn't find an original MOD Black Watch sporran for a decent price, I bought an MOD Royal Regiment of Scotland sporran fairly cheaply on Ebay, and put the tassels from a WPG BW sporran on it. (All ranks of the RRS wear the old Black Watch sergeants&above sporran, but with the two long tassels of the old Gordon Highlanders officers' sporran.)

Some Black Watch pipers back in the day, in 1935



and here in 1957. Note that the Pipe Major wears different hose and puttees



and a piper in Full Dress on their recent North American tour; look how large the sett is on that 18oz MOD tartan

[TheOfficialBren]

Excellent. Thanks, Richard. Good looking gear.

[thescot]

Great thread. I'll be anxious to see the outfit once you have it assembled. Personally I always liked the BW's uniforms best. (Well, there was that Gordon uniform . . .)

BTW: I happen to have a No. 2 dress tunic in a 38 if you're very small. As well as a No. 6 (I think that's what it is) tropical wool in the same size. Both look pretty sharp.

[OC Richard]

I appreciate it Jim but I'm a big person 6'4" 230lbs!

I used to be so skinny (I was a runner from my late teens to mid 20s) that I could wear, and did wear, original MOD kilts and jackets, but those days are gone!

Perhaps the most difficult BW thing to get are the spats. I have a pair of spats which are slightly too big that I might take apart and rework in the BW shape.

[MacGumerait]

OC , that is great ! It may be a long process , but you are certainly off to a good start . I have a certain affinity towards the Black Watch , several family members served in that fine regiment back in the day . Good on ya !