So I've mentioned a number of times about my late grandfather's sporran-making and that I wanted to take it up. So today, I visit my grandmother and we go up in the "pre-attic" (air-conditioned laboratory connected to the attic) to see what's leftover in fur and leather and other supplies so I can take up the craft with my dad.
We found what we were looking for... most of the fur are scraps that aren't going to be useful for sporran making. Plenty enough to make a number of children's fur sporrans (which is how I'm going to practice.)
But upon opening one of the boxes on top I find this...


A bobcat full mask--unfortunately it's incomplete. It isn't made how my grandfather typically made his full-masks--without paws, etc. I guess he may have been ill-pleased with how it was coming along, got frustrated, or took up a new hobby. (My grandfather had more hobbies than anyone I've ever met.) Here are some more photos of it demonstrating a little more about it.

It's got a good form for the most part--stuffed with cotton I assumed. It's very light, as his sporrans were wont to be.


The edges of the pelt are neither sewn nor glued down. This may have been the bit that caused him much frustration. I don't know. The fur being pretty short and laying flat against the pelt may not have lent itself to his normal method.

The paws are not tacked down in anyway... which is what my dad thinks he intended to do. Right now they are attached to the pelt on the flap (the head piece) and we think that he would have detached these as they are not at all pleasing to have to deal with opening and closing the sporran.
It might be worth mentioning that some of the sharp claws on the poor critter were still present (both dew claws and one other). Those will need to go...
I do intend on finishing this project. I guess that might go more with the DIY forum, but since this is MOSTLY complete I figured Accessories would suit just as well.
Also, since I'm here discussing the treasure. In the boxes of fur scraps, I did find a raccoon pelt with mask and quite a few (15 or so) ermine (some missing their tails from another sporran project). I'm considering practicing with the ermine making "little boy" full mask sporrans for children. (or even a large doll?)

Raccoon pelt amongst one box of scraps.


Ermine pelts