Hair Sporran info (please)!

[Manxstralian]

Sorry for the vague message this is going to be, but I am currently on holidays, and away from my computer, so I can't attach images. Today I saw a horsehair sporran in a second hand store, and was wondering if anyone could advise me of its provenance, and possible value. It has white hair with two black tassles, brass cantled with the St Andrew symbol often seen on hair Sporran cantles.
It also has brass cones, which were engraved with thistles within triangular borders (I'd hazard a guess that there was four such sets of these around the cones). Also the cones were scalloped or "castletted" on the ends, not simply ending on a straight line. The only other points I can add are it has a white belt attached, and a functional pouch on the back. It looked in really good condition, and I've never seen a brass cantled military style sporran like this before (also, google is coming up empty).
Any ideas on its lineage and possible value? It was in a militaria and second hand store in Tasmania, if that helps. The store was shut, so I couldn't hold it and look for makers marks, but it looks genuine and in great condition.
Cheers,
Cameron

[Manxstralian]

This is the cantle: http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/sporran-top
Perhaps an officers sporran?

[MacRobert's Reply]

If it has only two tassels with a brass cantle that looks similar to the Black Watch cantle, it is almost certainly a modern sporran of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. These are the same pattern for officers and other ranks. They sell in the UK for between £60 and £120. Black Watch sporrans, which have five tassels attached with white cord, usually sell for much more.

[OC Richard]

Yes that's exactly right.

Here are several of them currently on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...p2045573.m1684

It's an odd portmanteau/hybrid/mongrel sporran, because it uses the traditional gilt cantle of Sergeants and Officers of The Black Watch, but the traditional gilt cones and tassels of Officers of The Gordon Highlanders.

Black Watch sporrans, of course, have five short tassels in black leather cones suspended by little white ropes.

Here's the top of a Black Watch Sergeant/Officer/Piper sporran



When worn it looks like this (Pipe Major Anderson AKA The Big Ug)



The Gordon Highlanders Officers' cantle on the other hand looks like this



Here you can see the cones. The metal looks to coppery in this pic, it's gilt as in the pic above.



The Gordon Highlanders Officers sporran being worn



Mix them together and what do you get? The RRS sporran



Being worn: