Faux Sporran?

[turpin]

Here's something I haven't seen before, brought to my attention by a forum member. As it is made in Scotland it may have been a relatively common thing there but ain't really a sporran in the sense of the word (pouch).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Notice that it seems to be for appearance only and is not a functional sporran. The fur wraps all the way around to the back and is sewn on there - no gusset. The small rings you see in the back picture hold the tassel chains which obviously go all the way through from the front, and the cantle is just a narrow channel of metal covering the top edges of the leather. I doubt very much there is an actual pocket on this one. Some pipers' hair sporrans are like this but I haven't seen one like this before.

At any rate, the price seems consistent with it's lack of function.

Has anyone else seen this type of thing in this style?

[Rob Wright]

Interesting. I can see why some would go for this. Many sporrans of the formal variety do not have a lot of carrying space so why have it at all? With jacket and waistcoat, you have enough pockets for everything you would carry. I quite like the look of it to be honest.

Rob

[Fougasse]

It may well be a child's sporran. I have a couple that have no pouch or just a small coin pouch in the rear.

[beloitpiper]

Piper's horse hair sporrans are the same way--no pocket. If it's for formal wear, then you'll probably be wearing a jacket with pockets.

[Sir William]

I used to see quite a few of these about 25 years ago when I first started wearing a kilt. All the ones I saw were dress sporrans or military horsehair sporrans. Justifications I heard at the time was that they presented a slimmer or sleeker appearance for dress occasions and kept the weight down.

I personally thought they defeated the purpose of the sporran, which was to provide a "pocket" for the kilt. Consequently, when I bought my dress sporran I made sure that it was functional.

[Howard Clark]

I don't see the point, myself. Interesting though, I suppose.

[Hillwalker]

One of those types of sporrans came with my stepson’s kilt rental outfit last year. It was just there to complete the overall look and nothing else.

[raibeart_dubh]

Hmm...that one sure is interesting. Though, there are some good explanations for its apparent lack of functionality offered up here.

The thing that baffles me is the price and the fur. It sure is cheap and it kind of looks like seal fur to me, though, there isn't any information in the auction that claims that it is. It seems to me that if it were it would be a lot more expensive regardless of its functionality. Any fur experts here who can identify it for sure?

[Tartan Hiker]

I've handled a fair amount of fur seal fur, and I'm pretty sure that's the real McCoy.

[JolyStNicholas]

It does remind me of a child's sporran but it would serve for a dress sporran with little space.