Quality of Kilt Pins

[Grizzly]

Hi
Have just bought my first kilt and am currently in the process of aquiring all the accessories. However am having a problem with the kilt pin. I ordered one from an online retailer and when it arrived I was very disappointed with the quality, it appears to be made out of cheese. The metal was so soft that it bent without any pressure whatsoever.
Admittedly it was a cheap pin and that is perhaps the answer to my own question, but what in your opinion, should the pin be made of. Or to put it another way, what sort of metal should I be looking for. I would like a pin with a bit of weight to keep the front apron down and also some strength so that it doesnt bend when I try to place it in position.
Would be grateful for your opinions.
Many thanks

Grizz

[Jock Scot]

Three things you need to bare in mind before bothering about the details of kilt pins.

1. It is not essential kilt attire.
2. It has no purpose other than decoration.
3. Whilst you may gain some reassurance that the weight of the kilt pin may keep your kilt down in a breeze, when it comes to a reel breeze(not gales!) the kilt may fly anyway!

In reality unless your kilt is made from really light tartan the "Marilyn Munroe" moments are not that common and with a bit of experience you learn to judge the risks of it happening and learn to position your hands alongside the kilt in turbulent conditions. Scotland is well known for its wind and after three score years and ten years(plus a tad) of kilt wearing I have had very few occasions to worry about such a thing. Mind you my tartan is of the heavier kind.

[Downunder Kilt]

What Jock said and, you don't have to have the ever common sword Kilt pin.
Many go with a brooch or something that has meaning to them. I wear a Australian Rising Sun badge that my father wore in WWII, others wear something to remind them of their service, or perhaps a brooch that Grandma wore. Others make their own, What can be used is up to the imagination

There was a thread recently "Show Us your Kilt Pins", http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...lt-pins-64703/

[Bugbear]

I used to use a blanket style pin, giant safety pin for saddle blankets and such, in fact, it's still in the apron of my kilt. It was steel, and would not have bent very easly.

[Chas]

First of all Grizz, welcome to XMarks. You have come to the right place for answers. I too have some rubbish kiltpins. One was sold by a well known kiltmaker with a good reputation - Geoffrey (Tailor).

Because the kiltpin is a fashion accessory rather than a necessity, it allows us to our own individuality. One of my favourites at the moment is a geode - I like the colours and it compliments the kilt. If you start looking round, you will find hundreds of things that could be converted in to a kiltpin.

My advice is to ditch the swords and go for something individual.

Regards

Chas

[CMcG]

I used to use a blanket style pin, giant safety pin for saddle blankets and such, in fact, it's still in the apron of my kilt. It was steel, and would not have bent very easly.

This is both a traditional and practical choice. A good horse blanket kilt pin is solid, stays closed, and has some weight to it. On the other hand, there are other pins that look fancier for something like a formal event.

[fluter]

This is both a traditional and practical choice. A good horse blanket kilt pin is solid, stays closed, and has some weight to it. On the other hand, there are other pins that look fancier for something like a formal event.

Stillwater Kilts (see their link on Xmarks) has the basic blanket pin. If you ever make an order from them, add one for a couple of dollars---it wouldn't be economical to ship by itself! Most of the nice and affordable kilt pins are pewter, which has a bit of mass. This one from USA Kilts is a real heavyweight:

rampant lion kilt pin by arcturus1997, on Flickr

This is a favorite, and came from Celtic Croft. It lives on my tank, but at the moment I usually don't have a pin on most of my kilts.

spear-knot by arcturus1997, on Flickr

For quiet bling, sterling silver is the bomb. You can even get a sterling blanket pin (see Scotweb or most Scots jewelry retailers).

[walkerk]

Hi Grizzly - and welcome to X-Marks.

Let me see if I understand your question. You did not ask whether or not to wear a kilt pin or what type to wear. You explicitly asked: "... what sort of metal should I be looking for ...". My recommendation would be steel, pewter, or sterling silver. Advertisers on this forum should be able to supply kilt pins with the quality and weight you desire.

[piperdbh]

Pewter and silver are fairly soft metals, especially if they're very thin. I'd look for a pin made from relatively thick metal, so it wouldn't bend. Clan crest/"buckle and strap" pins bend easily because of their ring shape.

[eaglemo]

I feel the best bet is to find something that has meaning to yourself or family that can be used as a pin, such as a family broach. The blanket pin is good, but look around an antique/collectible shop for something that may catch your eye!