Quote Originally Posted by 48HofC View Post
Civilian pipe bands and pipers have been wearing military cap badges forever it seems with the Highland regiments being most popular. At the World pipe band championships you could see bands wearing Gordon, Argyll, Queens Own Highrs,etc badges, so it is still prevalent today. Many bands had loose affiliations with the old regiments, be it through old associations, ex servicemen starting the band, the list goes on. Some soldiers/ex soldiers do take issue with it, but the MOD doesn't care anymore because none of the badges are worn by any active regiments and in many cases permission was sought and given.

With regards to the mounting holes on the bonnet, my regular glengarry badge is spaced different than the staff badge I wore on my feather bonnet, so that is another consideration. As far as I know, the only bonnet dicing that can only be attributed to a particular regiment and not copied, is the vandyke (zig zag) pattern on first the Scots Greys then the RSDG's.
Interesting stuff, thanks for this info. So, they're possibly not as old as I first thought. I know the 'Seaforth' bonnet with the plastic chinstrap was bought second hand in the 80s but know nothing of the other to help age it. It doesn't matter, im just interested as I find them fascinating.

I'm torn between the two because I only need one so I intend to sell the other. The trouble is whilst the 'Seaforth' bonnet is more comfy on, has better condition lining and in my opinion a nicer dicing/badge combo, the 'Argyll' bonnet trumps it all day on shape and size! I had no idea there was such variation out there.