Classifying Sporran Critters

[Nanook]

How can one distinguish between
- Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandica) [mainly from Canada and Greenland]
- Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) [mainly, I think, Scottish]
(both not allowed to cross into United States territorial space)
and some more common otters such
- European Otter

All of them, I think, have quite directional hairs, are dense and greasy. Hair length? I don't know.. Any ideas?

[IEScotsman]

Why use a seal or otter at all? Rabbit is very nice. Or next time a neighbor upsets you, use them!

[neo71665]

Or the neighbor's pet

[chasem]

Here's something I've been pondering. The Native Alaskans are allowed by law to kill seals, and use their parts to make stuff. I saw several seal-skin products while in Alaska available for purchase.

I think you folks know where I'm going with this... any Alaskan Natives making sporrans?

[Nanook]

Here's something I've been pondering. The Native Alaskans are allowed by law to kill seals, and use their parts to make stuff. I saw several seal-skin products while in Alaska available for purchase.

Alaskan Natives are allowed to hunt seals and trade in handicrafts made using their pelts. They may, however, not be exported and re-imported since ALL imports of seal fur is prohibited by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

I think you folks know where I'm going with this... any Alaskan Natives making sporrans?

To wear with their kilts? :-)
Seriously.. there is hardly anyone left in Scotland making traditional sporrans!

[Nanook]

Why use a seal or otter at all?

Aside from that they have nice robust and waterproof fur... Its tradition. Seals, otters, badgers are the critters whose furs got to...

Rabbit is very nice.

Rabbit is neither robust nor terribly dense or waterproof. A rabbit hair sporran would not last long and its not terribly regarded as something luxurious (like mink, chinchilla or sable fur) but tacky. I know of no traditional maker that would bother. Rabbit is popular (for obvious reasons), alongside cats and dogs, throughout Asia for cheap "fur" products and ALL of the rabbit fur sporrans you see are made alongside footballs...

[Freelander Sporrano]

I'm sitting here wondering where this thread is going.
According to your last outpour. Everyone that has a Rabbit fur sporran Has somthing tacky that won't last long. I hope many of our membership whom own rabbit fur sporran aren't insulted by that,

I think you should stick to your original post and ask how to tell the difference.

If you don't know then there are lots of books on wildlife you can read

[IEScotsman]

Aside from that they have nice robust and waterproof fur... Its tradition. Seals, otters, badgers are the critters whose furs got to...


Rabbit is neither robust nor terribly dense or waterproof. A rabbit hair sporran would not last long and its not terribly regarded as something luxurious (like mink, chinchilla or sable fur) but tacky. I know of no traditional maker that would bother. Rabbit is popular (for obvious reasons), alongside cats and dogs, throughout Asia for cheap "fur" products and ALL of the rabbit fur sporrans you see are made alongside footballs...

I respectfully disagree with you. There are many sporran owners who like their rabbit fur sporrans (I'm one of them) and don't regard them as "tacky". And many of those sporrans were made by traditional makers. Also, there are XMark supporting retailers like the Scottish Tartan Museum and Sport Kilt that sell these sporrans and the word "tacky" isn't in their product descriptions.

[mbhandy]

the Scottish Tartan Museum and Sport Kilt that sell these sporrans and the word "tacky" isn't in their product descriptions.

Hear Hear.

MrBill

[SnakeEyes]

I've found that rabbit fur 'sheds' pretty bad, but that could just be an issue with the tanner I get my products from, not all rabbit fur. I've never worn a rabbit fur sporran, but I probably would.