"Period" Sporran Advice Sought

**Harper** · 31st December 15, 11:39 AM

Hello all,

I'm putting together a 1740's kit and I've reached the part where I have to decide on a sporran. I will not be wearing battle kit; this is just the normal dress of a rather prosperous Highland gentleman.

As the whole impression is rather subdued (for a Highlander of the 1740's) I don't want to go terribly outré with the sporran.

I have in mind either the Ferguson-Britt Rob Roy Reiver, or the Ferguson-Britt Reiver. I'd like to stay with one of the Reiver models because the look like it would be easier to get my hand into one than it would with one of his designs with cantles. Please let me know if I'm wrong about that guess.

So, question: will either of them be suitable for what I have in mind? Or should I be looking at something else entirely, like one of the hunting sporrans with a metal cantle? To me they look good, but I wonder if they're a Victorian creation.

Go raibh maith agat, gach duine.
~H.

**Tarheel** · 31st December 15, 05:29 PM

Are you aiming for a Country or City gentleman? I would go with the Rob Roy because, if "Country" it would hold more usable items (including coins) for the tours of the grounds. A "City" gent would have a separate change purse hidden within the clothing folds to thwart pickpockets.
My choices are made by reading of the times and circumstances of the people during the mid-1700's.

**OC Richard** · 31st December 15, 06:31 PM

My tack is to look at original images of the period in question:

**MacKenzie** · 7th January 16, 09:44 AM

Trews and a sporran. Curious.

**Harper** · 7th January 16, 10:11 AM

It seems okay to me. He had a sporran and his trews didn't have pockets. Why not? I've worn a belt pouch with my jeans and will again when I drive something with roomier seats than my MINI has.
I admit: I do like the period notion of "if I own it and like it I'll wear it." I happen to think (my own private opinion, please nobody get upset) that treating Highland wear the way many modern folks do - like uniform regs - would be unfamiliar to the people back then and up there. It seemed to me that the folks who put the Liam Neeson Rob Roy film together had it mostly right: dirk hangs where you like it; so does the sporran.
In answer to the kind folks who helped me with their opinions: I'll probably go with the FB Rob Roy and hang it in the middle, which means that the buckle will be off-center, but it's my buckle and I can wear it where I like.

**jhockin** · 8th January 16, 11:01 AM

check out this thread:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...te-garb-51320/

**figheadair** · 9th January 16, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by MacKenzie

Trews and a sporran. Curious.

The clothing of the MacDougall chief at the time of his death i n 1733 included: 2 pairs of trews and a sporran. Where else would he have kept his money.

**MacKenzie** · 10th January 16, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

The clothing of the MacDougall chief at the time of his death i n 1733 included: 2 pairs of trews and a sporran. Where else would he have kept his money.

Indeed. Just the first time I'd seen it pictured... I think.

**tripleblessed** · 12th January 16, 10:43 AM

I sent a link to this page to Lamar (Ferguson Britt) as he's not here all too often, but he's been sick and getting behind.
He'll likely be happy to talk with you about what you want.

**Dale Seago** · 2nd February 16, 03:40 PM

I really like the Britt sporrans -- in fact, Lamar has told me that I own more of them than any other single customer, and I almost never wear any others. Personally I usually prefer something cantled. As an example, this is what I wore to a Burns Supper this past Saturday night -- as it was the 10th annual, and final, Burns Supper of the Xmarks Nor Cal Rabble I decided to honor the occasion by going "Old School":

(Public link)

https://www.facebook.com/Alphacelt/m...9617140&type=3