I know I'm getting in on this a bit late, but did you try trauma shears? They are like scissors but they are serrated. We use them to cut just about anything someone may be wearing. I have used them to cut leather boots off of a motorcycle accident patient. They seem to cut just about everything I need and always have a pair in my turnout gear.

The kilt looks great. May have to talk to our quartermaster and see if I can get some old gear when its time to replace some old sets and try one for myself.