Would you ever wear a feather in your cap, particularly in the U.S.?

**gordontaos** · 16th September 10, 10:41 PM

Basically, if you wear one and are not entitled to wear one, you are a fraud.
If you wear one, and are entitled to it, but it is not legal, you are a felon.
Sounds like a pretty easy decision to me!

**Dale Seago** · 17th September 10, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by gordontaos

Basically, if you wear one and are not entitled to wear one, you are a fraud.
If you wear one, and are entitled to it, but it is not legal, you are a felon.

And if you wear one, are entitled to it, and it's legal, you are favored.

**JerseyLawyer** · 17th September 10, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by gordontaos

Basically, if you wear one and are not entitled to wear one, you are a fraud.
If you wear one, and are entitled to it, but it is not legal, you are a felon.
Sounds like a pretty easy decision to me!

The alternative is, if one is an armiger, to have one's badge made with a small silver feather behind it.

Of course, as has already been noted, if you're already wearing your badge on a plain circlet, why bother.

**Harold Cannon** · 20th September 10, 01:18 PM

I was wondering if any one had a source about this. I remember seeing somewhere a print or drawing wher a scotsman wore the entire wing of a small bird on the cockade of his bonnet. I dont know if this was for a military unit or what but I thought it was quite interesting. If anyone has some information about this I would love to know.

**Mike_Oettle** · 20th September 10, 01:49 PM

Harold Cannon wrote: “There is a strong suspicion however, that whilst the Scots did wear feathers in their hats at one time, the use and Chiefly significance of the eagle feathers may have been a Victorian invention based upon the American Indian tradition.”

Certainly the Black Watch tradition of the red hackle goes back to the French and Indian War.
Regards,
Mike

**Ryan Ross** · 20th September 10, 02:53 PM

Forgive me for the digression, but to anyone who knows: This isn't a Red Tail Hawk feather, is it?

**MacOibicin** · 20th September 10, 06:58 PM

I've worn pheasant feathers in my fawn balmoral. However, I don't claim to be a chief or leader of anything. I just think feathers look cool in my balmoral at piping gigs. The brown and purple of the feathers looks AWESOME next to my Isle of Skye kilt. Besides, these are feathers I took from pheasants that *I* hunted. I froze the feathers to get rid of any "nasties", trimmed 'em up, and they were ready to go.

**thescot** · 20th September 10, 08:08 PM

I might consider wearing a pheasant or some other feather under certain circumstances, but I can't say what those circumstances would be.

I would not wear an ealge feather any time for obvious reasons.

The local Hobby Lobby has feathers of various size, and I almost bought the longer ones a while back, but then I couldn't figure out when I would wear one. So, I think it's OK, but I dont' know when.

That's clear as mud.

**Moski** · 21st September 10, 10:17 AM

I'm maybe kind of confused. Eagle feathers, with one noted exception, are the only feathers that carry ANY signifigance in denoting rank or position in the accepted Highland tradition. Any other feather, except the noted exception, means absolutely nothing. This discussion is bordering on mirroring the argument about who's entitled to wear certain tartans. I asked that question here some months ago and the rabble could only come up with one Chief requesting restraint and respect in the wear of "their tartan". If it's an eagle feather it may be assumed to make a certain claim. If it's any other feather it should likely be assumed that the wearer thinks it looks nice or jaunty. Clan Chiefs were certainly not the first or the only ones to "put a feather in their cap", it's just for them a particular feather, or two, have an underlying meaning. Where did we get a proscription of any feather?

**macwilkin** · 21st September 10, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Moski

I'm maybe kind of confused. Eagle feathers, with one noted exception, are the only feathers that carry ANY signifigance in denoting rank or position in the accepted Highland tradition. Any other feather, except the noted exception, means absolutely nothing. This discussion is bordering on mirroring the argument about who's entitled to wear certain tartans. I asked that question here some months ago and the rabble could only come up with one Chief requesting restraint and respect in the wear of "their tartan". If it's an eagle feather it may be assumed to make a certain claim. If it's any other feather it should likely be assumed that the wearer thinks it looks nice or jaunty. Clan Chiefs were certainly not the first or the only ones to "put a feather in their cap", it's just for them a particular feather, or two, have an underlying meaning. Where did we get a proscription of any feather?

Are you bold enough to tell a member of the Royal Regiment of Scotland or the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers that their feather hackles mean "absolutely nothing"?

T.